Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has hired a former Justice Department official to lead a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump and his family of businesses.
Matthew Colangelo is likely to lead a criminal investigation against district attorney Trump, according to a New York Times report. Colangelo previously worked as a senior Labor Department official in the Obama administration, and after leading the New York Attorney General’s civil investigation into Trump, he joined the Justice Department as a third-in-command. His previous work may guide his work in the criminal investigations he plans to participate in.
Prosecutors in New York have focused on whether Trump illegally inflated property values, investigating in recent months whether he paid porn stars who claimed to have ties to the former president. There is
Colangelo will join the District Attorney’s Office as a senior attorney to assist in “the most sensitive and high-profile white-collar investigations.” He will also focus on top priorities including housing and tenant protection, worker and worker protection.
“Matthew Colangelo brings a wealth of economic justice experience, coupled with complex white-collar investigations, and the sound judgment and integrity necessary to pursue justice when those in power and institutions abuse their power. “I have a lot of talent,” Bragg said in a statement confirming the employment of Colangelo.
NEW: Today we are pleased to announce that Matthew Colangelo has joined us as Senior Counsel.Matthew joins us from @TheJusticeDept & will focus not only on our housing and work cases, but also on examining the most high profile white collars in the office. https://t.co/3rEqu0XLf2
— Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) December 5, 2022
Attorney General Merrick Garland added in a statement that he had relied on Colangelo’s “sage advice and good judgment” since his first day in office.
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Colangelo and Bragg previously worked together at the New York Attorney General’s Office, where Colangelo led several lawsuits against the Trump administration. He also oversaw the Trump Foundation investigation that led to the dissolution of the former president’s charity, led the Civil Investigation Service to further investigate his financial practices, and ultimately led to a September lawsuit from Attorney General Letitia James. I’ve arrived.
At the Justice Department, Colangelo helped oversee the civil, civil rights, antitrust, and tax departments. He resigned from the post following the appointment of Permanent Attorney General Vanita Gupta, but continues to serve as her deputy, overseeing the attorneys in those departments.
In a statement, Colangelo said he was “honored to be reunited with District Attorney Bragg” and made it clear that by tackling financial crime, “the same rules apply to everyone, no matter how powerful.” ready to be
“By expanding the enforcement of worker and tenant protection laws, our communities will be safer for all New Yorkers and the playing field will be leveled for responsible employers and landlords,” he said. said in a statement.
Colangelo has never been a public prosecutor or criminal defense attorney, and spends little time prosecuting white-collar criminals. But former U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez says Colangelo is a quick learner.
In an interview with The Times, Perez said, “Matthew is the perfect man for this sensitive job because he’s unflappable, legally brilliant, has impeccable judgment, and is good around the block.” I’m humble enough to involve people who are,” he said.
Colangelo’s appointment is likely to provoke ire from Trump, who has frequently referred to the criminal and civil investigations against him as a political “witch hunt.”
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