Who is Matthew Colangelo? Manhattan’s DA hires new face to help with 'sensitive' investigations against Trump
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is strengthing his investigative team by hiring a top and highly experienced DOJ official to probe former president Donald Trump. Former high level DOJ official Matthew Colangelo has been hired after two other officials resigned early this year amid rumors that Bragg would not pursue a case decisively against the former president.
"He will help guide the most sensitive and high-profile white-collar investigations," said Bragg in a statement, according to Daily Mail. Colangelo will "promote confidence in the legal system by making clear that the same rules apply to everyone – no matter how powerful," Bragg said in a statement that invoked the nation's most famous defendant in a string of legal actions. Bragg's office has said its inquiry of Trump is "ongoing."
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In Colangelo, Bragg has found an official who has experience probing Trump's sprawling business interest, amid signs that his office is probing the hush money payments to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels, who allegedly had an affair with Trump. After declining to prosecute Trump and his company, Bragg is apparently back to pursuing the years-old Stormy Daniels case. The business tycoon has previously denied his alleged relationship with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, multiple times. He has termed the investigations against him as a "witch hunt". New York AG Letitia James is also pursuing a $250 million civil suit against Trump's company. Trump is accused of undertaking fraudulent business practices to avoid taxes imposed by James. Colangelo served as acting associate attorney general at DOJ, and led the New York AG's Trump probe. He got high marks from one Obama administration official he worked for, former Labor Secretary Tom Perez.
"Matthew Colangelo brings a wealth of economic justice experience combined with complex white-collar investigations, and he has the sound judgment and integrity needed to pursue justice against powerful people and institutions when they abuse their power," Bragg told the New York Times, which reported his hiring. On Monday, December 5, a jury began deliberations in a criminal tax fraud trial case brought by Bragg's office against the Trump Organization.
"Matthew is the perfect person for a job of this sensitivity, because he’s unflappable, he’s legally brilliant, he has impeccable judgment and he’s humble enough to involve people who have been around the block," Bragg said. Early this year, Bragg assumed office after longtime AG Cy Vance, Jr. had probed Trump without charge in a long-running investigation of his finances. Trump is accused of practicing the "art of the steal" and of inflating the value of company assets by billions by James in her own civil case. Colangelo and Bragg previously worked together in the AG's office. He also helped probe the Trump Foundation before.