The prosecutor from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office leading questioning of adult film actress Stormy Daniels in former President Trump’s unprecedented criminal trial has donated to President Biden’s campaign and other Democratic politicians and organizations over the years. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, who questioned Daniels, donated $500 to Biden’s presidential campaign in 2020 and gave more than $900 to ActBlue, an online fundraising platform for Democratic candidates. Hoffinger’s donations have come under scrutiny as Republicans investigate alleged politicization of the case against Trump. House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik criticized the lead prosecutor in the case and the judge for their Democratic ties, suggesting that the trial is politically motivated.
Another top prosecutor on Bragg’s team, Matthew Colangelo, was paid by the Democratic National Committee for his “political consulting” work. Colangelo previously held a senior role in the Biden Justice Department and joined Bragg’s office after prosecutors investigating Trump had resigned in protest of Bragg’s initial unwillingness to indict the former president. This has raised questions among some in the GOP about the politicization of the case. Colangelo was paid $12,000 by the DNC in 2018 for political consulting while serving as deputy attorney general for social justice in the New York Attorney General’s office. Republicans are now investigating Colangelo and his past work as he prosecutes Trump in the ongoing trial.
Colangelo had previously worked in the Obama administration in various roles, including in the DOJ’s civil rights division, as the chief of staff to Labor Secretary Tom Perez, and as a deputy assistant to President Obama. He also served as the deputy director of the White House Economic Council. In December 2022, Colangelo joined Bragg’s office and is now involved in prosecuting Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts, and prosecutors must convince the jury that the alleged falsification of records was in furtherance of another crime, specifically conspiracy to prevent or promote election in violation of New York State law.
The trial of former President Trump is seen by some Republicans as a politically motivated attack on Trump, with key prosecutors and the judge having ties to the Democratic Party and President Biden. Questions have been raised about the integrity and impartiality of the prosecutors involved, particularly in light of their past donations and political consulting work. The ongoing investigation and prosecution of Trump in New York have sparked concerns about the potential politicization of high-profile criminal cases. The outcome of the trial and the actions of the prosecutors could have far-reaching implications for future cases and the perception of the justice system’s fairness and independence.
The involvement of prosecutors who have donated to Democratic candidates and organizations in the trial of former President Trump has brought about allegations of political interference and bias in the legal proceedings. The donations and past political consulting work of key prosecutors have raised questions about the motivations behind the trial and the fairness of the prosecution. As Republicans investigate alleged politicization of the case, concerns about the independence and integrity of the justice system have been highlighted. The ongoing trial of Trump in New York has become a focal point for political and legal scrutiny, with potential implications for future high-profile cases and the public’s trust in the justice system.
