Staff Reports
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is showing a surprising softness towards President-elect Donald J. Trump, announcing that his office will not object to pausing Trump’s criminal proceedings until after he leaves the White House in 2029. It seems that after a couple of years of chasing Trump like a dog with a bone, Bragg has decided to temporarily take a break from the relentless pursuit of the former president. With Trump’s recent electoral victory shifting the dynamics, the prosecutorial fervor has suddenly cooled. Who knew legal battles were so susceptible to the winds of political change?
In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan, Bragg’s team made it clear that while they are still against Trump’s outright dismissal of his criminal conviction, they are perfectly happy to delay any sentencing and further legal wrangling until he’s safely tucked into his second term. Originally scheduled for November 26, Trump’s sentencing will likely take a backseat until the political landscape settles down—which means “we just realized that trying to prosecute a sitting president is complicated,” according to legal analysts almost everywhere.
The DA’s office has proposed December 9 as a new deadline for filings that may even consider dismissing the case altogether. The timing seems suspiciously convenient, especially as this decision comes on the heels of Trump edging ever closer to resuming a position of power. With the Supreme Court looming over the situation, the DA essentially noted that pursuing Trump now might lead to a wild goose chase, especially given that his impeachment could bring with it a buffet of legal challenges.
🚨🚨 JUST IN: Alvin Bragg Stands Down After Massive Decision In Trump's New York Casehttps://t.co/Eq0BJfJFbE
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) November 19, 2024
To justify their pause, the prosecutors said they respect the office of the presidency and the accompanying legal entanglements, no doubt realizing they’re playing with fire. This newfound reverence appears to reflect an understanding that perhaps, just perhaps, their case lacks the strength to withstand the scrutiny that accompanies an election, particularly one as contentious as our current political climate. Understanding that pushing forward could just generate more headaches than wins, they’ve opted for an “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” approach.
In the midst of this dramatic shift, Trump’s spokesperson was quick to declare victory, portraying Bragg’s move as an acknowledgment of the “witch hunt” that has characterized the prosecution effort. Apparently, it’s now official that pursuing Trump legally while he’s dining in the White House is not just complex; it borders on the nonsensical. With Trump’s legal team now gearing up to seek a complete dismissal of the case, the DA’s office has officially stepped back from its aggressive stance—this makes Trump’s victory all the sweeter and raises eyebrows about the effectiveness of this whole legal affair from the beginning.
With this latest chapter in prosecutorial misadventures, Trump looks set to saunter ahead unfazed, leading some to wonder if this legal drama ever had legs in the first place. As the Manhattan DA pumps the brakes, it becomes apparent that no political narrative wrapped up in court cases can truly derail the political comeback of a man used to weathering storms—especially around election season.
