America First Legal (AFL) has filed a new lawsuit against the New York District Attorney’s Office for refusing to comply with a records request under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) regarding District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
In March of 2023, AFL opened an investigation into the New York County District Attorney’s Office in search of internal communications and other documents surrounding the prosecution of the former president. In one example, the legal group cited a quote from Democrat Political Operative Lanny Davis, who claimed that he triggered the investigation in a statement to Politico.
“Davis’s claims might be puffery, but they provide an additional reason to believe that the District Attorney’s unusual interest in President Trump has been based on improper partisan considerations from the start,” AFL wrote in a press release.
On June 3, 2024, after several extensions, the District Attorney’s Office granted access to “one single-page record,” AFL announced in the press release.
“Additionally, its search identified ’36 responsive records’ to AFL’s request for all emails or other communications ‘mentioning or regarding Donald J. Trump’ with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), but the request was ‘denied on grand jury secrecy grounds,’” the legal group further explained.
“Bragg’s office’s statement appears inconsistent with DOJ’s June 10, 2024, response to Chairman Jim Jordan, stating that DOJ found nothing from its ‘comprehensive search for email communications since January 20, 2021, through the date of the verdict, between any officials in Department leadership, including all political appointees in those offices, and the District Attorney’s office regarding any investigation or prosecution of the former President.’”
As a result, America First Legal is now suing before the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the request of relevant records. The group is demanding all records pertaining to communications between Bragg’s staff and the Biden Administration, including the Department of Justice, the New York Times, the Free and Fair Litigation Group, and Lanny Davis’ law firm and PR firm. AFL is further requesting all records of internal communications within Bragg’s office concerning Judge Merchan or former President Trump.
As part of its investigation, AFL has previously requested records pertaining to the hiring of Matthew Colangelo, who left a senior position with the Biden DOJ to become a low level prosecutor in New York. He was immediately assigned to the Trump case and prosecuted it in court.
“When justice operates in the shadows, abuse is often the intent. America First Legal is at the forefront of getting the facts and informing the American people. There should be nothing to hide. If improper ex parte communications influenced what is supposed to be nonpartisan prosecutorial conduct, all Americans are at risk. America First Legal is suing because it is committed to ensuring our justice system is free from partisan politics,” said America First Legal Vice President Dan Epstein.
