Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s job is supposed to be keeping New Yorkers safe. Unfortunately, he’d rather take it easy on criminals and illegal migrants and save his harshest prosecutions for Good Samaritans and politicians with whom he disagrees.
He’s refused to prosecute fare-beating, resisting arrest, and more in his tenure and opted to avoid pre-trial detention at almost every juncture. As a result, repeat offenders have been let loose to re-offend again and again, leading to the highest rates of felony crimes in New York City in decades.
While the bad guys get a pass, Bragg went after people like Jose Alba, who defended himself after coming under attack in a bodega where he worked; Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran, just proven innocent, who intervened when a deranged, career criminal posed a violent threat to his fellow straphangers; and, of course, President Donald J. Trump, who Bragg pursued relentlessly for years with inflated charges that federal prosecutors in President Biden’s own Department of Justice, his predecessor Cy Vance, and leading legal scholars found flimsy at best.
What did Bragg achieve? Stoking racial and political tensions in New York City.
What did he not achieve? Making us all safer.
Gov. Hochul has been in charge of New York State for the entire duration of Alvin Bragg’s tenure, watching mainly in silence as he has made a joke of our justice system and undercut the public’s trust in his office and the rule of law.
As governor, she has the sole authority to remove Alvin Bragg from office. On the heels of Donald Trump’s show trial and Daniel Penny’s acquittal — not to mention the legitimate fear New Yorkers and tourists have when they walk the streets or ride the subways in the greatest city in the world — it has become clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Alvin Bragg can no longer serve as District Attorney.
Gov. Hochul should remove him from office immediately — Alvin Bragg is a failure and has abused his office.
Anything less than firing him shows how unserious Gov. Hochul is about tackling crime in New York City and upholding the public’s trust in our justice system.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R) represents New York’s 17th District.
