Andrew Cuomo has criticized Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg for his decision to prosecute Donald Trump, suggesting the move was politically motivated.
The former Democratic governor of New York expressed confusion over why Bragg seems to be focusing on the case, in an interview with WABC radio.
He said he believed the public was “cynical” and seeing prosecutors bring these political cases “just confirms everyone’s cynicism.”
According to Cuomo, the move only serves to fuel the country’s anger, cynicism and partisanship.
Former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo has criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s focus on potentially prosecuting Trump
Cuomo believes the action against Trump may be politically motivated and doesn’t understand why Bragg is pushing the case, which he says is a felony case
“I don’t understand why Bragg puts such an emphasis on this case,” Cuomo said.
“A person is breaking the law, I understand, but on the state’s side, this is a felony case. It’s really a federal case because he needs it to be a campaign finance fraud case, which is a federal case and that’s what Bragg will have to do to make this a felony,” he explained.
“I think it’s all political and that’s what I think the people of this country are saying,” Cuomo continued.
“It just feeds that anger and that cynicism and the partisanship. Is it a coincidence that Bragg goes after Trump and Tish James goes after Trump and Georgia goes after Trump? That’s all a coincidence? I think it feeds cynicism and that is the cancer in our political body at the moment.”
Despite concerns about Bragg’s motivation, Cuomo says he expects charges to be filed next week, noting that prosecutors can charge “a ham sandwich” if they want to.
For a felony, Cuomo says, Bragg, pictured, should have focused on campaign finance fraud. He believes the case will fuel cynicism and partiality
Cuomo firmly believes that Bragg will only go after Trump purely because he can.
“I’m sure they’ll get sued,” Cuomo said.
Bragg has been widely criticized by Republicans for attempting to sue Trump in connection with the alleged “hush money” payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, which many legal experts have already concluded is a weak and politically motivated case.
Top House Republicans have demanded that Bragg testify before Congress about the charges and turn over documents related to the case.
They warn that the charges “could erode confidence in the impartial application of justice and invariably upset the court of the 2024 presidential election.”
In response, Bragg’s office issued a defiant statement, saying that “we will not be intimidated by attempts to subvert the process of justice, nor will we be deterred by unfounded allegations from applying the law fairly.”
Bragg’s office also sent a letter to Republicans saying their investigation was “an unlawful encroachment on New York’s sovereignty.”
Republicans have since countered with another letter on Saturday, arguing that their actions have a legislative purpose, noting that Bragg did not deny their allegations that the case was “politically motivated.”
On Saturday, Donald Trump claimed Bragg dropped the criminal investigation a week after claiming he would be arrested within days
On Saturday, Donald Trump claimed that Bragg dropped the criminal investigation a week after claiming he would be arrested within days.
The former president told a small group of reporters aboard his private jet on Saturday night that prosecutors had had no choice but to give up despite recent evidence.
With an open-neck shirt and a bottle of Diet Coke at his side, Trump cut a relaxed figure as he traveled back from his campaign’s first rally in Waco, Texas — and has become angry at any suggestion he has found “frustrating” in recent days .
“I have no idea what’s going to happen…” he said. “I think they’ve already dropped the case. From what I understand… I think it’s been scrapped.
“But I believe if anything ever happened to the case, it’s a bogus case.”
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said fans in Waco Bragg had “nothing” about him.
He insists that a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels weeks before the October 2016 election was not a campaign finance violation.
Trump also denies a 2006 one-night stand with the artist.
Donald Trump talks to reporters, including DailyMail.com, on his plane as he returned from Waco, Texas, on Saturday. He said he believed the Manhattan DA dropped the case
Trump gives a pass to four traveling members of the press as he arrives to board his private jet at West Palm Beach International Airport for the flight to Waco, Texas
It marks a remarkable turnaround. Last Saturday, he posted a message that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and called on supporters to protest.
But the day came and went. And a grand jury hearing evidence in New York did not sit Wednesday or Thursday, sparking speculation in the Trump world that DA Alvin Bragg’s case in Manhattan was reeling.
Trump spent the days following his usual routine of going to his West Palm Beach golf course and maintaining an image of business as usual.
On Saturday night, as he flew home from addressing what aides said was a crowd of 25,000 supporters in Waco, Texas, he scoffed at any idea the probe had been a distraction.
“I’m not frustrated by anything,” he said in response to a question. “I just gave a speech for two hours. I’m not frustrated doing that at first.
“I just had polls come out where I am 40 points ahead. Look, this is what I hate about fake news.’
But he faces growing legal danger from a series of criminal investigations. The most direct is related to an alleged hush money payment to Daniels during his 2016 White House campaign.
He was recently invited to testify before a grand jury in Manhattan, a clear sign that it is finishing its work and is about to issue an indictment.
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