Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has requested New York Attorney General Letitia James to provide documents related to former Department of Justice official Matthew Colangelo, who is currently serving as lead prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in the NY v. Trump case. Colangelo’s previous roles have involved investigations into President Trump, leading to concerns about his motives in prosecuting crimes. Colangelo has a lengthy background in government, including working in various legal roles dating back to the Obama administration. His move from a top DOJ position to a district attorney’s office has been described as unusual by experts.
Colangelo has previously prosecuted cases involving Trump, including the dissolution of Trump’s former NY-based charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, due to illegal coordination with Trump’s 2016 campaign. He also worked on a case involving the Trump administration’s push to include a citizenship question in the 2020 census. Experts have questioned Colangelo’s decision to leave a high-ranking DOJ position to join the Manhattan DA’s office, suggesting it may be motivated by a desire to target Trump. Trump has criticized Colangelo as a “radical left prosecutor” who has been tasked with running the trial against him.
The NY v. Trump case focuses on allegations that Trump falsified business records to conceal a payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges and continues to maintain his innocence. Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who is a key witness in the case, testified that he used personal funds to pay Daniels and was later reimbursed by Trump. Cohen described the payment as a “retainer,” which he claimed was a false description. The prosecution team is working to prove that Trump was aware of and involved in the payment.
Jordan has raised concerns about the political motivations behind the prosecution of Trump by the Manhattan DA’s office, especially given Colangelo’s background in investigating Trump during his time at the DOJ. The perceived bias in the case has led to accusations that the Biden Justice Department is politicized and weaponized. The trial is ongoing, with testimony from Cohen shedding light on the details of the payment to Daniels. Trump is restricted from publicly speaking about the case due to a gag order imposed by the presiding judge. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for both Trump and the political landscape more broadly.
