Donald Trump’s Cases ‘Sabotaged’ by Alvin Bragg’s Secret Money Accusations: ‘It’s Over Before It Starts!’

Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s handling of the hush money case against President-elect Donald Trump, arguing it “poisoned the well” for subsequent Trump-related cases. Sign up for New York magazineHonig argued that the hush money charges were not only the weakest of Trump’s four charges, but also undermined the credibility of the more serious cases that followed.

The Bragg Case: A Controversial Beginning

Earlier this year, Bragg accused Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with concealing cash payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump denies allegations Daniels had an affair in 2006 and maintains his innocence, calling the charges politically motivated.

Trump was found guilty of the charges in May, but his sentencing, originally scheduled for July 11, was repeatedly delayed. Judge Juan Merchan last week delayed sentencing indefinitely and gave Trump’s legal team until Dec. 2 to argue for dismissal, citing Trump’s recent election victory as a potential factor for immunity. Prosecutors have been given a week to respond to these arguments.

Consequences of the Bragg case

Honig called the Manhattan case the least serious of Trump’s legal problems, but it was the first to be charged and brought to trial. “If you have four arguments and make the weakest one, you are sabotaging your own position,” Honig wrote. He added that Bragg’s prosecution had now “collapsed” and entered its “final resting place.”

Legal experts are divided on whether Bragg’s handling of the case has had a negative impact on Trump’s other charges. These include a secret documents case in Florida, a federal indictment for alleged interference in the 2020 election, and a Georgia case involving similar allegations. Trump has denied all charges and called the cases a politically motivated “witch hunt.”

Trump’s legal landscape

As the first president to face criminal charges while seeking re-election, Trump has been clearing out cases while rallying his political base. His spokesman, Stephen Cheung, called the Manhattan case a “hoax” and celebrated the reprieve as a victory, emphasizing that Trump’s election victory signaled public support for his return to the White House and an end to the legal witch hunt.

Meanwhile, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing Trump’s two federal cases, is reportedly preparing to resign after the inauguration. Trump has publicly vowed to fire Smith and his team immediately upon taking office.

Reaction on social networks

The fallout from the Bragg case has sparked intense debate on social media, with users weighing the legal and political implications:

• @LegalEagle90: “The Bragg case was a failure from the very beginning. What a waste of resources.”
• @MAGA_Truth21: “Another victory for Trump! The swamp is falling apart!”
• @JusticeForAll33: “Bragg mishandled this, but let’s not forget the other serious cases Trump faces.”
• @LiberalLioness: “Typical Trump strategy: delay, deny and rally his base. Let’s see how this ends.”
• @NYCObserver: “This is what happens when prosecutors chase headlines rather than compelling cases.”
• @LawAndOrderNow: “Bragg should have known better. The weakest case going first was a terrible strategy.”

What’s next?

Judge Merchan has not yet announced a new sentencing date for the Manhattan case, so its future remains uncertain. Bragg’s office has proposed delaying all remaining proceedings until Trump’s term ends in January 2029, indicating a potential willingness to return to prosecution in the future. For now, Trump’s legal battles continue to unfold as he prepares to take office in January.