PHOTO: US Rep. Michael Lawler is one of several politicians calling for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg to resign after the not-guilty verdict in the Daniel Penny case./Douglas Healey

‘Anything less than firing [Bragg] shows how un-serious Hochul is about tackling crime in NYC and upholding trust in our justice system.’

Op-Ed by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)  | New York Post

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s job is supposed to be keeping New Yorkers safe. Unfortunately, he’d rather take it easy on criminals and illegal migrants and save his harshest prosecutions for Good Samaritans and politicians with whom he disagrees.

He’s refused to prosecute fare-beating, resisting arrest, and more in his tenure and opted to avoid pre-trial detention at almost every juncture.

As a result, repeat offenders have been let loose to re-offend again and again, leading to the highest rates of felony crimes in New York City in decades.

PHOTO: Manhattan DA Bragg attends the trial of Danial Penny on Dec. 2./Steven Hirsch

While the bad guys get a pass, Bragg went after people like

Jose Alba, who defended himself after coming under attack in a bodega where he worked;

Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran, just proven innocent, who intervened when a deranged, career criminal posed a violent threat to his fellow straphangers; and, of course,

President Donald J. Trump, who Bragg pursued relentlessly for years with inflated charges that federal prosecutors in President Biden’s own Department of Justice, his predecessor Cy Vance, and leading legal scholars found flimsy at best.

What did Bragg achieve? Stoking racial and political tensions in New York City. What did he not achieve? Making us all safer.

Gov. Hochul has been in charge of New York State for the entire duration of Alvin Bragg’s tenure, watching mainly in silence as he has made a joke of our justice system and undercut the public’s trust in his office and the rule of law.

PHOTO: Gov. Hochul at a recent groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the soon-to-be-built LGBTQ museum on Manhattan’s West Side./Matthew McDermott

As governor, she has the sole authority to remove Alvin Bragg from office. On the heels of Donald Trump’s show trial and Daniel Penny’s acquittal — not to mention the legitimate fear New Yorkers and tourists have when they walk the streets or ride the subways in the greatest city in the world — it has become clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Alvin Bragg can no longer serve as District Attorney.

Gov. Hochul should remove him from office immediately — Alvin Bragg is a failure and has abused his office.

Anything less than firing him shows how unserious Gov. Hochul is about tackling crime in New York City and upholding the public’s trust in our justice system. ##

Rep. Mike Lawler (R) represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which includes all of Rockland and Putnam Counties, most of Northern Westchester County and portions of southern Dutchess County.