Ex-prosecutor who opposed Trump pleads the Fifth in GOP committee deposition.

Former Prosecutor Invokes Fifth Amendment Rights in Trump Investigation

Overview

Former Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, who led an investigation into Donald Trump’s finances, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during his deposition before the House Judiciary Committee on Friday. The GOP-led committee is conducting oversight of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s “unprecedented indictment” of a former U.S. president.

Details

Former President Donald Trump became the first-ever U.S. president to be criminally charged in a case brought by Bragg in March. As part of the House Judiciary Committee’s oversight, Pomerantz was subpoenaed to provide testimony. Bragg sued in an attempt to block the congressional subpoena, but a judge denied his request.

In Pomerantz’s opening statement on Friday, he called the GOP-led committee’s investigation “political theater.” He said he was appearing to testify “as required” because “I respect the rule of law.”

Subpoenaed to Testify

Pomerantz had pushed for an indictment against Trump after having led a probe into the former president’s hush money payments that took place prior to the 2016 election. The former prosecutor left the Manhattan district attorney’s office in February 2022 because he disagreed with Bragg’s initial decision not to pursue a criminal case against Trump.

Three House GOP chairmen, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), mounted an investigation into Bragg’s office in March, at a time when Trump had suggested he’d be arrested soon, but before the felony charges were announced.

Possible Criminal Liability

Pomerantz also explained that Bragg’s office had warned him he could face criminal liability “if, among other things, I disclosed grand jury material or violated a provision of the New York City Charter dealing with the misuse of confidential information.” He said a lawyer from Bragg’s office on April 19 told him that his book exposed him to criminal liability, even though he is “certain” that he “broke no laws.”

In conclusion, Pomerantz stated that the charges against Trump should be heard and decided by a judge and a jury before politicians second-guess their merits or the decision to bring them. “Those who claim that they respect the rule of law should wait for the courts to do their work,” he added.