The Home Judiciary Committee will hear from victims of violent crime in New York Metropolis, that includes as one in every of its principal witnesses a bodega worker charged with homicide whereas appearing in self-defense.
The previous bodega worker, Jose Alba, who was assaulted behind the counter on July 1, 2022, will testify earlier than the committee relating to Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg’s insurance policies throughout an April 17 listening to.
Alba is predicted to testify that Bragg’s insurance policies have contributed to rising crime and made residents really feel insecure through the listening to entitled “Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan.”
Madeline Brame, chairwoman of the Sufferer Rights Reform Council and mom of a murder sufferer, and Jennifer Harrison, an advocate for victims’ rights in New York, may even present testimony.
Republicans stated the listening to “will study how Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg’s pro-crime, anti-victim insurance policies have led to a rise in violent crime and a harmful neighborhood for New York Metropolis residents.”
The costs towards Alba had been dropped a number of weeks after being filed, following widespread outrage over what was seen by many as self-defense.
Alba, 61, killed Austin Simon, 35, after Simon shoved Alba and stood over him whereas Alba was sitting towards the wall. Alba tried to get previous Simon, which could possibly be seen within the video, however finally grabbed a knife and stabbed Simon a number of instances.
“Following an investigation, the Individuals have decided that we can not show past an affordable doubt that the defendant was not justified in his use of lethal bodily drive,” stated a movement filed on July 19 by Bragg’s workplace.
“As such, the Individuals is not going to be presenting the case to a Grand Jury and for the explanations offered within the hooked up memorandum, hereby transfer to dismiss the grievance.”
Bragg has been persistently within the headlines because of his involvement with the indictment towards former President Donald Trump.
Since that point, the Home Judiciary Committee, which Republicans at present management, has chosen to analyze a few of Bragg’s insurance policies.
The Manhattan district legal professional has sued the committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), alleging the Republican member has launched a marketing campaign meant to intimidate him.
Jordan, a Republican, has launched “a clear marketing campaign to intimidate and assault District Legal professional Bragg, making calls for for confidential paperwork and testimony from the District Legal professional himself in addition to his present and former workers and officers,” Bragg, a Democrat, claimed within the new swimsuit, lodged in federal courtroom in New York on April 11.
Nevertheless, U.S. District Decide Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee, turned down Bragg’s emergency request for a short lived restraining order and preliminary injunction towards Jordan.
“The Court docket declines to enter the proposed Non permanent Restraining Order and Order to Present Trigger,” Vyskocil stated, noting that she had not but obtained a number of paperwork that had been referenced in Bragg’s filings.
Regardless of her rejection of Bragg’s request, she has ordered Jordan and different defendants within the case to answer the lawsuit and scheduled a listening to for April 19.
Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
