In response to the growing outrage among Americans over the political prosecution of Donald Trump and the Manhattan jury’s conviction of the former president on 34 felony counts, President Joe Biden declared, “It’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they don’t like the verdict.” Coming from the man who many believe orchestrated this entire scenario, Biden’s words ring hollow.
The fingerprints of the Biden administration are all over Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of Trump. One of Bragg’s lead prosecutors, Matthew Colangelo, left the Biden Department of Justice in December 2022 to “jump start” the criminal case against Trump. Previously, Biden had appointed Colangelo as his acting associate attorney general, placing him among the highest-ranking officials in the DOJ.
But the Biden administration’s involvement goes back even further. As early as mid-February 2021, the ties between the Manhattan D.A.’s office and Biden’s team were already forming. Bragg’s predecessor, District Attorney Cyrus Vance, had arranged for private defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Mark Pomerantz to join the D.A.’s office as a special assistant specifically to work on the Trump investigation. This highly unusual move, as reported by The New York Times, was the beginning of a coordinated effort to target Trump.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, the law firm from which Pomerantz took leave, had deep ties to Biden. The firm had hosted a fundraiser for Biden during his first run for president and continued to support him financially and socially, even attending state dinners. This connection undoubtedly influenced the relentless pursuit of Trump by Pomerantz and his colleagues, who were lent by Paul, Weiss to the Manhattan D.A.’s office.
Pomerantz’s resignation letter in early 2022, which was leaked to The New York Times, revealed that Bragg had initially decided against pursuing criminal charges against Trump. However, the political pressure from Pomerantz’s claims led to Bragg hiring Colangelo, who then proceeded with the indictment and conviction of Trump. Meanwhile, at least three career prosecutors in the Manhattan D.A.’s office had requested removal from the Trump investigation, citing a lack of clear evidence to support the charges.
The Biden administration’s involvement in the political targeting of Trump extends beyond Manhattan. In August 2023, Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump and 18 other Republicans. Court filings revealed that Willis’s office had met with White House counsel and communicated with the Biden administration shortly before Trump announced his 2024 candidacy.
Biden’s fingerprints are also on the two criminal cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Reports indicate that Biden believed Trump should be prosecuted and expressed frustration with Attorney General Merrick Garland’s slow approach. Eventually, Garland appointed Smith, who then charged Trump in two separate indictments, one related to documents retained by Trump and another concerning conspiracy and obstruction charges linked to the 2020 election.
The case against Trump in D.C. required Smith to stretch the federal criminal code to its breaking point. The Supreme Court seems poised to limit the reach of the statutes used against Trump, potentially invalidating some charges. Similarly, the documents case against Trump began with a referral from the national archivist, who had previously declined to refer Hillary Clinton to the DOJ for mishandling classified documents. This case has faced delays due to mishandling by the FBI and misleading evidence portrayal.
Biden’s denial of responsibility for the criminal targeting of Trump is contradicted by overwhelming evidence. His administration’s actions have consistently aimed to eliminate Trump as a political threat. As Trump himself noted, the true verdict will come on Election Day 2024, when the American people will have their say on this orchestrated political persecution.
