Prominent Republicans are misleading Americans about the connection between Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and billionaire George Soros. They’re also misleading the public as to the extent of federal funds used in the Trump investigation. Here are the facts.
In 2021, Soros donated $1M to the Color of Change in 2021.
Color of Change is a progressive nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization in the United States. It was formed in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in order to use online resources to strengthen the political voice of African Americans. Today it focuses on reforms in the criminal justice system.
For a bit of context, Soros expressed his support for criminal justice reforms in a 2018 Wall Street Journal column, where he advocated for more preventive measures and mental-health resources while arguing there is no correlation between prosecutorial reform and a rise in crime.
The $1M donation to Color of Change was not earmarked to back Bragg’s campaign, or intended to be used in an effort to pressure the DA. Soros’ representatives confirm it was to further support criminal justice concerns as referenced by Soros back in the Journal’s 2018 article.
Regarding Color of Change supporting Bragg, its officials confirm that from all the funds donated to the group from all sources around the country and world, in the end the group spent around $500,000 to support Bragg because the Color of Change supports Bragg’s views on criminal justice reform and civil rights advocacy.
It is also noted that just like other Americans disgusted by what they were seeing in the Big Apple, Soros’ son Jonathan, and daughter-in-law Jennifer, gave about $20,000 combined to Bragg’s 2021 campaign, according to the New York State Board of Elections.
Earlier today George Soros confirmed in a statement that he did not contribute to Bragg’s campaign and added: “I don’t know him.”
There’s nothing to see here folks.
With the above in mind, it’s disgusting to me to see prominent political leaders, including former Vice President Pence, intentionally misrepresent Sorros’ donations to a criminal justice organization with purposeful soundbites designed to mislead their supporters.
It bothers me when GOP leaders like Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican tweets, “Alvin Bragg is bought by George Soros.” This from the same guy that received millions of dollars in support from GOP megadonor and investor Peter Thiel.
Now that you know the facts, ask yourself what’s really going on?
Contrary to the “legal voodoo” claims by Sen Lindsey Graham, this is what the American justice system is all about. Nobody is above the law.
I’m looking forward to reading the actual indictment. It’s being reported that at least 30 charges are being brought against Trump.
The facts still matter. The truth still matters. Justice still matters.
Here are a couple of related links:
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/22/trump-indictment-alvin-bragg-ties-to-george-soros-examined.html
Only about $5K in federal funds were used by the Manhattan DA’s office relating to the Trump investigation.
Once again, the facts matter.
The Manhattan DA’s general counsel, Leslie B. Dubeck, has disclosed that approximately $5,000 was spent “on expenses incurred relating to the investigation of Donald J. Trump or the Trump Organization,” and added that that money came from “federal forfeiture money that the Office helped collect.” The letter says that no federal grant money was used toward expenses in the Trump investigation and most was used relating to Supreme Court litigation. Here’s the letter.
In the last 15 years, Dubeck shared that the DA’s Office helped the federal government secure more than one billion dollars in asset forfeiture funds.
Of further importance is that fact that Dubeck penned a letter Friday to three House GOP committee chairmen, citing Trump’s harsh rhetoric aimed at District Attorney Alvin Bragg and writing, “As Committee Chairmen, you could use the stature of your office to denounce these attacks and urge respect for the fairness of our justice system and for the work of the impartial grand jury.”
Dubeck continues, “Instead, you and many of your colleagues have chosen to collaborate with Mr. Trump’s efforts to vilify and denigrate the integrity of elected state prosecutors and trial judges and made unfounded allegations that the Office’s investigation, conducted via an independent grand jury of average citizens serving New York State, is politically motivated.”
Full article link here https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/31/politics/congress-trump-letter-latest/index.html
Mitch Jackson, Esq.
2013 California Litigation Lawyer of the Year
