Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Thursday said he was unaware of the efforts to get him ousted from office over his progressive prosecutorial agenda.
The top prosecutor was asked by a photographer about the online campaign launched this week — and pushed by Republican gubernatorial candidate Andrew Giuliani and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa — demanding an amendment to the state constitution to allow for a recall of Bragg’s election.
“I haven’t heard about what either of those two have said, so no comment,” Bragg said as he exited a black SUV about 9:30 a.m. outside his Lower Manhattan office.
“I was elected by the voters of Manhattan, we’re two weeks in, we plan to deliver safety and justice for all and we’re focused on the mission.”
Bragg, who was elected last year and took office Jan. 1, was similarly tight-lipped on Wednesday, saying “I’m not going to discuss an open matter” when he was asked about The Post’s front-page story about William Rolon, the wanted ex-con whose armed robbery charges were downgraded to misdemeanors in accordance with Bragg’s reforms.
The revision petitioners are calling for would require approval of the state Legislature and then voters via a ballot referendum — and could take several years. Unlike California, New York State does not have a recall provision for voters to remove an elected official before their scheduled re-election.
Bragg, Manhattan’s first black DA, has faced fierce blowback from several officials — including the new NYPD police commissioner, Staten Island district attorney and the head of the NYPD’s largest union — for ordering prosecutors to stop seeking prison sentences for certain crimes and to downgrade felony charges in cases including armed robberies and drug dealing.
Bragg and NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell on Tuesday said they engaged in a “productive” conversation about the DA’s policies.
Bragg has said he was caught off guard by the heavy pushback.
On Wednesday, The Post reported that Rolon, an ex-con accused of threatening a drug store worker with a knife, was told by Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Jay Weiner that he should “feel lucky” he got nabbed after the new, lefty DA took charge.
Colon on Tuesday failed to appear in Brooklyn court in an earlier assault case.
Source: NYPOST
