OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A former New York City police commissioner has laid the blame for the escalation of crime and violence in The Big Apple squarely at the feet of far-left Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
In an interview with Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly praised Republicans for holding field hearings just down from Bragg’s office in the city earlier this week and claiming that the DA “is a major contributor to” the rising crime rates.
“I liked the hearing. I liked the fact that victims of crime can speak directly to politicians. They avoid that as much as they possibly can. But yes, Chairman Jordan (R-OH) was right on target as far as police officers being treated with such disrespect throughout the country,” he told Maria Bartiromo.
“[Y]ou walk along the streets of New York, you can see how much the quality of life has deteriorated. And that’s why people are leaving. It’s right there. You can see it plain as day,” he added.
Bartiromo responded: “To what do you attribute that to, the increase in crime and the resignation increase?”
“Well, I attribute it to the administration, certainly, the administration of Bill de Blasio. He set the tone, so to speak. Mayor [Eric] Adams has not done the things, in my opinion, that would significantly reduce crime, bring back the anti-crime units, do stop, question, and frisk in a more active way,” Kelly continued.
“I think he’s trying to get the subways back. But that’s another — that’s a challenge. So, I think it really has to do with — certainly, Alvin Bragg is a major contributor to this because the other district attorneys in New York City follow the lead of the Manhattan district attorney,” Kelly said.
WATCH:
Meanwhile, a federal judge has rejected Bragg’s request to block a former prosecutor in his office from testifying before the House Judiciary Committee about the criminal case against former President Donald Trump.
“The committee and its chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), had subpoenaed ex-assistant district attorney Mark Pomerantz to give testimony about the DA’s investigation into Trump, 76, that culminated in the former president’s indictment in March. Bragg filed suit against Jordan and the Judiciary Committee, claiming the subpoena was an overreach by the GOP-led House and an attempt to influence a state criminal proceeding,” the New York Post reported.
“But Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil found the subpoena was issued with a valid legislative purpose and that it was not the role of the federal judiciary to dictate how Congress operates,” the report continued.
“Mr. Pomerantz must appear for the congressional deposition. No one is above the law,” Judge Vyskocil wrote in an opinion issued after a Manhattan federal court hearing.
Pomerantz was scheduled to appear for the deposition Thursday morning.
Earlier this month, Bragg sued Jordan to demand he stops “interfering” in a local prosecution.
But as quick as he filed his lawsuit a judge for the Southern District of New York refused to even file a temporary restraining order, Mike Davis of The Federalist Society reported.
“Soros-funded Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s (frivolous) lawsuit against House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan is already off to a bad start for Bragg: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York declined to even enter a temporary restraining order,” he said, showing a screenshot of the decision.
Soros-funded Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's (frivolous) lawsuit against House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan is already off to a bad start for Bragg:
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York declined to even enter a temporary restraining order.
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) April 12, 2023
“Summary of Soros-funded Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s (frivolous) legal argument: Congress is interfering in Bragg’s misuse of federal funds and misuse of federal law to politically interfere in the next presidential election,” he added.
In his suit, Bragg alleged that Jordan and the committee are attempting to wage an intimidation campaign over the indictment.
The D.A. said he’s taking legal action “in response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of” Trump, Fox News reported.
