Mar. 20, 2023: Scoop: House GOP targets Manhattan DA

Good morning from Orlando, where House Republicans are gathered at a
luxury resort not far from Disney World for their annual three-day
retreat — and where, we’ve learned, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim
Jordan (R-Ohio) and senior GOP leaders are preparing demand to testimony
from members of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office amid reports of
an imminent Trump indictment.

This morning, we can report two things:

1. In the short term, Republicans are discussing firing off letters
summoning employees of the Manhattan DA’s office for sworn
testimony, according to a GOP official familiar with the plans. The
potential request comes amid speculation about why the hush-money
case was suddenly resurrected after being back-burnered by both
state and federal prosecutors. The official, who spoke on condition
of anonymity because the plans are not final, noted that McCarthy, a
longtime Trump ally and close friend, is “fully supportive and
pushing folks to be aggressive here.”
 
2. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg himself is in the GOP’s crosshairs, though
it’s not clear if he’ll be immediately summoned. “He should come
testify before Congress,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told
us and other reporters, launching into a lengthy tirade about “fake
charges” meant to be “used in Democrat ads” against Trump.

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Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook
Daily Briefing.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Good morning from Orlando, where House Republicans are gathered at a luxury resort not far from Disney World for their annual three-day retreat — and where, we’ve learned, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and senior GOP leaders are preparing demand to testimony from members of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office amid reports of an imminent Trump indictment.

This morning, we can report two things:

In the short term, Republicans are discussing firing off letters summoning employees of the Manhattan DA’s office for sworn testimony, according to a GOP official familiar with the plans. The potential request comes amid speculation about why the hush-money case was suddenly resurrected after being back-burnered by both state and federal prosecutors. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans are not final, noted that McCarthy, a longtime Trump ally and close friend, is “fully supportive and pushing folks to be aggressive here.”
 Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg himself is in the GOP’s crosshairs, though it’s not clear if he’ll be immediately summoned. “He should come testify before Congress,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told us and other reporters, launching into a lengthy tirade about “fake charges” meant to be “used in Democrat ads” against Trump.

Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.