Former Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. has cautioned former President Donald Trump against his recent criticisms of the judge and district attorney involved in his indictment.
Vance expressed concern on Sunday that Trump’s actions could worsen his situation. During an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Vance stated, “I’ve got to say that I was disturbed to hear the former president speak in the way he spoke about the District Attorney Bragg and even the trial court in the past week.”
Vance left office at the end of 2021 and passed on the investigation to the current district attorney, Alvin Bragg. Vance expressed concern that Trump’s chastising of Bragg and the trial court could lead to Trump committing another criminal offense, such as obstruction of governmental administration. Vance further warned that adding such a count could affect the severity of the case in front of a jury.
Despite this warning, Vance said he does not know if Bragg’s case against Trump is “airtight or not.” Nevertheless, a grand jury has already issued an indictment, and Trump is expected to be arraigned in New York on Tuesday. This marks the first time a former president has faced criminal charges.
Former Manhattan DA Cy Vance doubts Bragg's indictment: "I do not know if this guy's case is airtight or not." pic.twitter.com/3482dV6QVl
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) April 2, 2023
Although details of the indictment remain unclear, Trump’s attorney Joe Tacopina told ABC News on Sunday that he was certain they “revolve around” the payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election cycle. Trump denies any wrongdoing and has repeatedly claimed that he is the target of a “witch hunt.” He has also accused Bragg of “prosecutorial misconduct” and called him an “animal,” claiming that the district attorney is backed by leftist billionaire George Soros. Soros has sought to distance himself from this assertion.
Trump has launched a series of attacks against the judge and district attorney involved in his indictment. In addition to criticizing Alvin Bragg, the current district attorney in charge of his case, Trump has also attacked the presiding judge, Juan Merchan. He accused Merchan of hating him and using strong-arm tactics against the former CFO of the Trump Organization, Allen Weisselberg, in a tax fraud case.
Despite Trump’s claims, his attorney Joe Tacopina, in an appearance on ABC News, stated that he did not personally believe the judge was biased. Tacopina, however, echoed Trump in asserting that his client was a “victim of political persecution.”
As previously reported, Trump is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday in New York. While details of the indictment are unclear, Tacopina stated that he was certain they “revolve around” the payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election cycle. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and continues to claim that he is the target of a “witch hunt.”
On Sunday, Trump’s re-election campaign announced that he would be delivering a public address from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Tuesday night.
