When a jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 criminal counts, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg won more than just the case.
The Harlem Democrat became famous for becoming the first prosecutor to succeed in having an American president convicted, despite appearing hesitant at points throughout the trial he initiated.
It’s one of the most spectacular legal achievements in American history, and it might propel him to the highest political office. The conviction on Thursday was met with immediate gratitude and praise from Democrats, who view the former president as a special danger to democracy. However, his followers and the recently convicted candidate have intensified their attacks, labeling the case as a “witch hunt” and a “sham trial” orchestrated by President Joe Biden.
There were, however, no celebratory bubble baths in Bragg’s office following the decision. Bragg maintained the same non-partisan stance he had taken during the prosecution when the verdict was announced in Manhattan Criminal Court. While speaking publicly, he characterized the situation as routine. He told his employees in private that they had taken on an enormous task, but that things needed to return to normal immediately.
An emailed memo acquired by AWN was sent by Bragg, who thanked his team for working under a global spotlight, and acknowledged that the recently finished trial had an impact on the navigation of the Office and courthouse, as well as on our staff, witnesses, victims, and law enforcement partners.
He continued, “As we wrap up this chapter, I want you to know that we will make every effort to get things back to normal as soon as possible, with your safety being our number one priority.”
A return to what Bragg calls “normal” is not in his near future.
Until Election Day, the political partisanship surrounding the question of whether or not to prosecute Trump will persist. Trump faces a possible sentence of four years in prison during his sentencing on July 11. Until then, the case will proceed as planned. It is highly probable that months of appeals will ensue.
Despite his best efforts, Bragg will eventually have to face his future as a politician. His conviction of Trump will undoubtedly be the focal point of his reelection platform next year. Even while he isn’t in the mood to— excuse the pun— boast about the case he won, his pals, aides, and New York Democratic leaders believe he should be grateful to the Manhattan Democrats who elected him.
“Alvin Bragg is going to run on a history-making, career-making prosecution,” stated Maya Wiley, a progressive legal pundit and 2021 mayoral candidate. This is the first time a former president of the United States has ever done it. End of story. Standing on its own, that is an incredible record.
According to Basil Smikle, a political scientist and former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, other party members will be more than willing to use the matter politically, even if Bragg himself is afraid of inciting partisan backlash. He emphasized that Democrats should rally behind him and highlight his commitment to accountability.
For a prosecutor who got off to a rocky political start, that is a crystal obvious message. After outlining his plan to decline prosecution of certain lower-level offenses, he has been attacked by conservatives who are strong on crime. Even while the crime rate in Manhattan has been going down during his tenure, it is still higher than it was before the outbreak, which makes Bragg a convenient target.
Many Democrats also held Bragg accountable for the delays in launching a criminal conspiracy case against Trump that his office assistants had been working on. After public resignations from the prosecution in that case, Bragg waited another year to prosecute Trump on a second charge of using hush money to bolster his campaign.
Some of Trump’s critics voiced their disapproval of the case, saying it was too weak because it relied on federal statutes to convert misdemeanors to crimes.
Wealthie Fife, a political advisor to Bragg, told AWN that the conviction confirms it was the correct case.
He assured them that Alvin is not concerned about the Twitter attorneys or any external distractions.
According to Fife, Bragg is in an even stronger political position than before, and he has set his sights on lowering gun violence and making Manhattan safer and more equitable. “Speech in court, politics taking care of itself—his focus is on doing the right thing, the right way, and for the right reasons.”
Naturally, Trump supporters’ escalating wrath and threats to Bragg’s life are political factors.
Using the fact that Bragg’s campaign had support from a political action committee (PAC) sponsored by liberal benefactor and Republican villain George Soros, Trump dubbed Bragg a “Soros-backed prosecutor” and claimed that he was coerced into accepting the case.
Ed Cox, the Republican chairman of New York state, stated that the decision will be reversed upon appeal. While we wait, though, “it elevates President Trump’s status as a candidate. The injustices that have made us appear like a banana republic and shamed us globally have elevated him to the status of a martyr, he said in an interview. Putin accomplishes this as president of Russia. President Xi of China does this. Additionally, we have begun to do the same.
The majority of Democrats are pessimistic about the case’s potential influence on the outcome of the election.
Democratic consultant Luis Miranda of New York City observed, “For those of us amazed with how this guy gets away with murder, metaphorically, it’s a moment of joy when justice finally catches up with you.” And so it was. “But that’s not going to help elect Trump or keep Biden in office.”
Another Democratic strategist from New York, Yvette Buckner, chimed in, saying, “There’s no playbook for this.” “Once the initial shock and amazement of the first president’s 34-count conviction wears off, the American people will have to sit down and ask themselves: Do they truly want a felon at the helm of our nation?”
Bragg gave himself a pat on the back Thursday night when asked about his response to the case’s critics. He talked about his legal training, his rise through the ranks at the state and federal levels, and his time as head of the highly regarded Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
“I did my job,” he repeated, “again.”
