A prosecutor has revealed he thinks Donald Trump is 'guilty of numerous felony violations' within his resignation letter from the criminal investigation into the former President.
Trump's finances have come under intense scrutiny in recent months. From allegations he used 'fraudulent' asset valuations to obtain economic benefits to the former President appearing not to have donated his last six months salary as promised, the 75-year-old has also been accused of breaking federal law by spending political funds on a presidential bid for 2024 before even formally declaring his candidacy.
Mark Pomerantz, who was part of a criminal investigation into Trump, has decided to resign after efforts to seek an indictment were blocked by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg.
In his resignation letter to Bragg, the prosecutor has detailed his damning allegations against the former President.
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Accusing Trump of being 'guilty of numerous felony violations of the Penal Law in connection with the preparation and use of his annual Statements of Financial Condition,' Pomerantz claimed that 'the team that has been investigating Mr Trump harbours no doubt about whether he committed crimes - he did'.
The letter, obtained by The New York Times, continues: "In late 2021, then-District Attorney Cyrus Vance directed a thorough review of the facts and law relating to Mr Trump’s financial statements.
"Mr Vance had been intimately involved in our investigation, attending grand jury presentations, sitting in on certain witness interviews, and receiving regular reports about the progress of the investigation.
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"He concluded that the facts warranted prosecution, and he directed the team to present evidence to a grand jury and to seek an indictment of Mr. Trump and other defendants as soon as reasonably possible."
While noting the 'significant time and energy' Bragg has 'devoted' to the investigation's evidence, Pomerantz explained that he deems Bragg's decision to 'not go forward with the grand jury presentation and not to seek criminal charges at the present time' as 'wrong'.
He said: "The investigation has been suspended indefinitely. Of course, that is your decision to make. I do not question your authority to make it, and I accept that you have made it sincerely.
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"[However] I believe that your decision not to prosecute Donald Trump now, and on the existing record, is misguided and completely contrary to the public interest. I therefore cannot continue in my current position."
Pomerantz stated that he views it as being in 'the public interest' to criminally prosecute Trump, noting how the former President and his organisation's refusal to cooperate has simply delayed such a result.
He also explained how the 'great bulk of evidence' which exists prior to Trump's presidency when he managed the Trump organisation is 'already dated'.
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"Most importantly, the further passage of time will raise additional questions about the failure to hold Mr Trump accountable for his criminal conduct," he said.
Pomerantz warned that delaying the suspension of the three-year investigation wouldn't give way to any stronger evidence, and that not prosecuting poses a 'greater risk [...] in terms of public confidence in the fair administration of justice'.
Moreover, he asserted that 'prosecution would prevail if charges were brought and the matter were tried to an impartial jury'.
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The prosecutor warned that Bragg's decision could 'doom any future prospects that Mr Trump will be prosecuted for the criminal conduct we have been investigating'.
He concluded: "I fear that your decision means that Mr Trump will not be held fully accountable for his crimes. I have worked too hard as a lawyer, and for too long, now to become a passive participant in what I believe to be a grave failure of justice.
"I therefore resign from my position as a Special Assistant District Attorney, effective immediately."
On Wednesday (23 March), a spokesperson for Bragg, Danielle Filson, claimed that the investigation remains ongoing, as per The Associated Press.
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She stated that a 'team of experienced prosecutors is working every day to follow the facts and the law. There is nothing we can or should say at this juncture about an ongoing investigation.'
The investigation has been branded a 'witch hunt' by Trump.
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Topics: Donald Trump, US News
Poppy Bilderbeck