Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has called out former President Donald Trump in a new court filing saying that the former president’s focus on discovery violations in his criminal case is a “red herring.”
The former president is currently facing 34 felony charges relating to the falsification of business records, accusing Trump of attempting to conceal hush-money payments to adult film star Stephanie Clifford, better known by stage name Stormy Daniels, during his presidential campaign in 2016.
Trump has repeatedly denied ever having an affair with Clifford and has pleaded not guilty to the related charges. The trial was set to begin on March 25 in New York.
Earlier this month, Bragg noted that he would not oppose a 30-day delay in the upcoming trial after producing nearly 73,000 documents on March 4. Bragg noted that the “brief adjournment” could give Trump’s team time to review the documents. In the court filing, Bragg also noted he believed only 172 pages of “witness statements” would be relevant to review and address before trial.
In Bragg’s new filing made public on Thursday, he called out Trump for his motion to dismiss the case based on discovery violations saying the “belated nature” in recent production of articles from U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (“USAO”), is “entirely a result of defendant’s own inexplicable and strategic delay in identifying perceived deficiencies in the People’s disclosures and pursuing independent means to obtain that evidence.”
Bragg continued in part: “Ultimately, defendant’s focus on purported discovery violations is a red herring. Evidence relevant to a case can come from many sources, and is not limited to the discrete materials in the People’s possession that are subject to automatic disclosure under CPL 245.20. As result, not every late revelation of evidence means that the People have violated CPL 245.20.”
Newsweek has reached out to Trump’s campaign and lawyer for comment.
Bragg also noted in the new filing that Trump has made “wild and untrue allegations of misconduct and malfeasance” after the USAO’s production of documents earlier this month.
Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade told Newsweek via email on Thursday, “There is no reason to believe there has been misconduct by the prosecution or that dismissal is appropriate. The defendants have received exactly what they requested. Any delay in production can be cured by delay, which has already been granted. Trump’s motion is a very aggressive effort to further delay the case.”
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg told also told Newsweek on Thursday: “I think DA Bragg’s argument will win the day.”
“Blame the Feds and the defense team for dragging their feet, but you should not punish the state prosecutors for it. I expect Judge Merchant to hold this trial soon after the 30 day extension expires,” Aronberg continued.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.