Former Manhattan DA prosecutor 72-year-old Mark Pomerantz took the 5th Amendment, refusing to answer any House Judiciary Committee questions about his prior prosecution of 76-year-old former President Donald Trump. Pomerantz resigned from the Manhattan DA Feb, 23, 2022 shortly after 49-year-old Alvin Bragg took over the office. Pomerantz urged Bragg to charge Trump with multiple felonies but decided to hold off, prompting Pomperantz to resign his post. “I respect the rule of law,” Pomerantza told Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), then proceeding to stonewall the committee, taking the Fifth on every question asked. “Pomerantz resented testifying, knowing his statement would be used by the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee to prove political bias against Trump. All Pomerantz had to do was tell the truth about why he quit his DA job.
Bragg charged Trump April 4, accusing the former president of cooking-his-books on hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels. Pomerantz had worked on Trump’s prosecution under former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. Vance refused to prosecute before retiring Dec. 31, 2021, When Bragg took office Jan. 1, 2022, he refused to go ahead with Pomerantz’s case against Trump. Pomerantz apparently was frustrated with Bragg’s decision that he didn’t have a complete case. “What I do not respect is the use of the Committee’s subpoena power to compel me to participate in an act of political theater,” Pomerantz said in a statement. Why Pomerantiz was so reluctant to provide the Judiciary any testimony is anyone’s guess. Pomerantz could have been coached by the Democratic National Committee or some other Democrat group to stymie the House Judiciary Committee.
What was Pomerantz so fearful of in his testimony to stonewall the taking the 5th on literally every questions? “Although the rule of law compels me to be here, it does not require that I play a substantive role in your theatrical production.. Under the law, I can decline not to answer your questions for several reasons,” Pomerantz said, not explaining why he was taking the Fifth. “I’ve never had a more obstructive and less cooperative witness in my over 20 years in Congress,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), puzzled why Pomerantz would take such an extreme position. Jordan and Issa couldn’t figure out for the life of them why Pomerantz stonewalled, when plenty of Republicans witnesses under Democrat leadership answered plenty of questions over the last two years without stonewalling the Committee. Pomerantz clearly had a fallout with Bragg when he refused in 2022 to charge Trump.
What could the House Judiciary Committee possibly ask Pomerantz that would have threatened his civil liberties? His rights were not at stake with the Committee asking him questions about his prosecution of Trump. What risks were there to Pomerantz? It makes you wonder who was he protecting by taking the 5th? If Pomerantz told the committee that Vance or Bragg told him his case was incomplete against Trump, what’s wrong with that? Jordan and Issa wants to know what, if anything, changed for Bragg to suddenly decide he’d met his burden of proof against the former president in his hush money case. “Today’s deposition simply underscored that House Republicans’ investigation into Donald Trump’s criminal prosecution by a local district attorney has a nexus in Congress . . “said Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.). What possible abuse does Goldman see practices?
Jordan wants to know if Pomerantz’s probe into Trump’s hush money payments to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Centerfold Susan McDougal were politically motivated. Why Pomerantz wouldn’t answer any questions that have no bearing on his culpability, but only on whether he took part in a political witch humt against the former president is anyone’s guess. Judging by his refusal to testify openly, it’s obvious he’s covering up something. Former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. could very well have been instructed by members of Congress, all seeking to prevent Trump from running in 2024. “We are gathered her because Donald Trump’s supporters would like to use these proceedings to attempt to obstruct and undermine the criminal case pending against him . . .Pomerantz said, not admitting the real reason he refuses to answer questions.
Pomerantz admitted he was told by Bragg not to answer any of the Judiciary Committee’s questions about Trump’s case. “I intend to honor the District Attoney’s request, and I will not answer questions to which the District Attorney objects,” Pmerantz said, admitting he was muzzled by his former boss. Bragg has now interfered with a Congressional investigation, telling Pomerantz to stonewall. Pomerantz just needed to tell the truth that the DA’s investigation into Trump was politically motivated, by various Democrat parties. “With formal charges against Mr. Trump should be heard and decided by a judge and jury before politicians second-guess their merits on the decision to bring them,” Pomerantz said. Pomerantz thinks it’s OK to serve as a cog in Democrat hit against the former president. Jordan and Issa simply want to know what drove Cyrus Vance Jr. and Bragg to prosecute Trump.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
