Fox News reported that Uriarte, representing the Justice Department, denied any coordination between the Department and Bragg's office in their legal actions against Trump.
Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte addressed these claims in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, calling them "conspiratorial speculation" and "completely baseless." The letter was sent less than two weeks after a jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
Uriarte emphasized that the Justice Department typically does not respond to speculative and unfounded allegations. However, due to the significant public interest and the need for transparency, the Department took extraordinary measures to confirm the baseless nature of these claims.
The letter from Uriarte was a direct response to an April 30 letter from Jim Jordan, who had suggested that the Justice Department was behind a politicized prosecution led by Bragg. Jordan had pointed to the involvement of Matthew B. Colangelo, a former senior Justice Department official, in the Trump investigation as evidence of this alleged collusion.
Uriarte clarified that a comprehensive search was conducted for email communications between the Justice Department and the District Attorney’s office. The search spanned from January 20, 2021, through the date of the verdict in Trump's case, including Colangelo’s email account, and found no evidence of such collusion.
Uriarte stated that the District Attorney’s office operates independently from the Justice Department. He highlighted that the Department does not supervise the work of the District Attorney’s office, does not approve its charging decisions, and does not try its cases. The Justice Department has no control over the District Attorney, and vice versa.
In his letter, Uriarte also criticized the Committee's claims as unfounded and harmful to the integrity of the justice system. He argued that accusations made without evidence undermine public confidence and contribute to increased threats against law enforcement officials and prosecutors.
Uriarte further noted that Bragg had to spend $1 million on attorneys to address the House probe into the Trump case, even amidst city budget cuts. This expenditure underscores the significant resources required to counter baseless claims.
Jim Jordan had previously written that Bragg's prosecution of Trump was politically motivated, led in part by Colangelo, who had a history of investigating Trump and his family business. Jordan's letter requested communications from Colangelo and other Justice Department officials to substantiate these claims.
Bragg had hired Colangelo to "jump-start" the investigation into Trump, citing Colangelo’s experience in handling cases related to the former President. This move was seen by Jordan as evidence of a coordinated effort to target Trump.
As the legal proceedings continued, former President Trump attended his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court on May 29. The trial attracted significant media attention, with Trump facing serious felony charges for falsifying business records.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg spoke to the media following the trial verdict. He reiterated the independence of his office's investigation and prosecution of Trump, distancing himself from any allegations of external influence.
The Justice Department's denial of collusion with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg highlights a significant defense against allegations of politicized prosecution of former President Trump. Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte's detailed letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan refutes claims of coordination, emphasizing the independent operations of the Justice Department and Bragg’s office. Uriarte's comprehensive review found no evidence of collusion, and his critique of the Committee's baseless accusations aims to restore confidence in the justice system.
