New York appeals court halts first subpoena in House Judiciary Committee’s Trump prosecution inquiry
The House Judiciary Committee is unable to continue its investigation into Donald Trump’s Manhattan hush money prosecution due to a federal appeals court’s decision that has temporarily halted Republican plans for questioning former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz.
Pomerantz had been ordered to appear in Washington, D.C., at 10 am on Thursday morning by the first investigative subpoena issued by the committee.
His testimony has been put on hold until a Manhattan panel of federal appellate judges reviews the lower court ruling that forced Pomerantz to testify on Wednesday.
In its decision, the 2nd US Court of Appeals said that the last-minute stay of Pomerantz’s testimony did not reflect any judgement on the merits of each party’s respective positions.
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Bragg’s Office must file court documents by Friday, explaining why Pomerantz shouldn’t testify and why Wednesday’s ruling should be reversed. The Judiciary Commitee has until Saturday to reply.
The decision to stop Pomerantz from questioning is just the latest in a battle between Manhattan District attorney Alvin Bragg whose office won this month the first prosecution against a former President, and Rep. Jim Jordan a pro Trump Republican who’s inquiry seeks to challenge that prosecution.
Jordan took the committee to Manhattan on Monday for a hearing in which he called Bragg “soft” and “weak against real crime.” The committee Democrats reacted strongly, pointing out that the crime rate in Manhattan, New York City, and other parts of the city is much lower than in the cities of Jordan’s native state, Ohio.
Bragg filed a lawsuit to oppose the committee’s investigation into the hush money prosecution. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying records under the law. Bragg’s first attempt to challenge the Pomerantz Subpoena was his lawsuit.
