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Edited by: TJVNews.com
New York Republican lawmakers are amplifying their demands for Governor Kathy Hochul to oust Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, following a contentious decision to release several individuals accused of assaulting two NYPD officers in Times Square without bail, as was reported on Wednesday by the New York Post. The incident has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with critics citing Bragg’s leniency and failure to uphold public safety.
NEW: Migrant mob beats NYPD officers near Times Square, released days later without bail according to the New York Post.
It’s almost as if New York City is *encouraging* people to beat up their officers.
After the beating, police chased down and found the men who were “asylum… pic.twitter.com/IqYg2KhJbs
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 31, 2024
State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, alongside 19 other senators, urged Governor Hochul to take decisive action against Bragg, characterizing his handling of the attack as the latest in a series of alleged failures. The Post reported that Ortt lambasted Bragg for what he perceives as running a public defender’s office from within the district attorney’s office, asserting that the public safety of New Yorkers is imperiled under his leadership.
“He is running a public defenders office out of the district attorney’s office,” Ortt told reporters Tuesday.
“Bragg’s unconscionable handling of the recent attack on two NYPD officers by a gang of migrants outside of a Times Square shelter must be the final straw,” the letter, sent Tuesday, said, according to the report in the Post. “The public safety of New Yorkers is clearly at risk.”
The Times Square attack, captured on camera late last month, shocked the city as several migrants were seen assaulting two NYPD officers. Despite being apprehended shortly afterward and charged with assaulting a police officer, several suspects were released without bail, prompting outrage and concerns over accountability, as was noted in the Post report.
Suffolk County Republican state Sen. Dean Murray echoed Ortt’s sentiments, emphasizing the urgency of removing Bragg from office in light of his perceived shortcomings. According to information provided in the Post report, Murray criticized Bragg’s selective approach to law enforcement, accusing him of cherry-picking which laws to enforce and which criminals to prosecute.
While New York’s bail laws have drawn widespread criticism for their perceived leniency, assaulting a police officer remains a bail-eligible offense, adding fuel to the debate surrounding Bragg’s decision-making.
In response to mounting pressure, Bragg’s office defended its actions, citing ongoing efforts to review surveillance footage and build a solid case against the suspects involved in the attack, as per the report in the Post. The spokesperson highlighted Bragg’s track record in combating violent crime, citing significant decreases in shootings and murders in Manhattan under his tenure.
Governor Hochul, while critical of the handling of the Times Square attack, has stopped short of directly naming Bragg, calling for the migrants involved to be deported, the report in the Post added. However, Republicans argue that Hochul’s condemnation should extend to Bragg’s leadership, urging her to take decisive action in removing him from office.
The controversy surrounding Bragg’s tenure has become a focal point for Republicans, with critics seizing on his clear cut leniency and reluctance to pursue harsh penalties for criminal offenses. The report in the Post indicated that Bragg’s policies have become a lightning rod for political debate, with opponents vowing to unseat him and restore accountability to the district attorney’s office.
As calls for Bragg’s removal grow louder, the fate of Manhattan’s top prosecutor hangs in the balance, underscoring the complex intersection of law, politics, and public safety in the heart of New York City.
