New GOP Bill Would Revoke Federal Funding For Bragg’s Office—Escalating War Over Trump Criminal Case

Topline

House Republicans introduced legislation on Thursday that would revoke all federal funding for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office and other state prosecutors who investigate current or former presidents—the latest move in the House GOP’s ongoing battle with Bragg over his criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

The legislation, titled the Accountability for Lawless Violence In our Neighborhoods (ALVIN) Act, would require Bragg’s office to return the approximately $630,000 in annual federal funding it receives.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who sponsored the legislation, said it was designed to target Bragg, accusing him of spending “thousands of federal taxpayer dollars to subsidize” what he called a “political indictment.”

A separate bill sponsored by Biggs, titled the No Federal Funds for Political Prosecutions Act, would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies that receive federal funding from investigating current and former presidents and vice presidents, along with presidential candidates.

House GOP leaders have not indicated whether the bill will be brought to the floor for a vote, and if it does pass the House, it faces an uphill battle in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Crucial Quote

“It’s disturbing to see District Attorney Bragg waste federal resources for political purposes rather than addressing the serious crime in his city,” Biggs said in a statement.

Contra

Bragg previously explained that his predecessor, Cyrus Vance, spent approximately $5,000 of federal forfeiture money between October 2019 and August 2021 investigating Trump’s business practices, but said the DA’s office has not used any federal money in its ongoing criminal case against Trump. Bragg said in a letter to House Republicans his office has used federal funds for various anti-crime programs, but argued the Manhattan DA has “contributed to the federal fisc” over the last 15 years by helping the federal government secure forfeited assets.

Key Background

Trump pleaded not guilty last week to 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a broad hush-money scheme Manhattan prosecutors said he orchestrated to cover up three affair allegations. Trump and his GOP allies have cast the investigation as a political “witch hunt” and Bragg’s office has fiercely fired back at the claims. On Wednesday, Bragg’s office sued House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), accusing him of overstepping his authority by opening a probe into the Manhattan DA’s Trump case. The suit asks a judge to block Jordan’s subpoena of former Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz and calls Jordan’s efforts a “brazen and unconstitutional attack.”

What To Watch For

The House Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing in its probe into Bragg on Monday in Manhattan. The hearing will “examine how Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime and a dangerous community for New York City residents,” the committee said in a statement.