New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a response to Donald Trump's latest request to have his already decided criminal case moved to federal court — and a legal expert said it "body slams" the former president's argument.
Trump's lawyers argued that all proceedings in his hush-money case must be paused while a request to move the case to federal court is considered. Trump is due to be sentenced on Sept. 18.
Bragg wrote in the letter, sent to Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan on Aug. 30 and posted online Tuesday, that Trump's timing concerns result from "his own strategic and dilatory litigation tactics."
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Former ethics czar Norm Eisen wrote on Friday, "Trump has requested that his N.Y. case be moved to fed court in yet ANOTHER desperate attempt to delay and avoid accountability. This request should be rejected and Trump should be sentenced without delay."
"The statute allows federal officials to remove a state prosecution to federal court—but ONLY if their alleged conduct was part of their official duties," said Eisen.
"But the fundamental problem with this ploy is that Trump already tried to remove the case and lost — no second bites at the apple!" he continued. "Judge Hellerstein, who has the case and who denied him before, should shut him down on that basis alone."
In Bragg's response, his office wrote, "Federal law is clear that proceedings in this Court need not be stayed pending the district court's resolution of defendant's removal notice."
On Tuesday, Eisen posted Bragg's response, commenting: "Manhattan DA bodyslams [sic] Trump federal removal attempt."
A jury had already decided on Trump's case, and Trump was found guilty of all charges.
See the document below or at the link here.
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