Trump’s attacks on Alvin Bragg could come back to bite him: ex-Manhattan DA

Former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said Sunday that Donald Trump should be careful about what he says about current Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to avoid further possible indictments after he was indicted last week .

On Thursday, a Manhattan grand jury indicted the former president following an investigation by Bragg’s office over an alleged $130,000 hush money payment Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels to hush her ahead of the 2016 presidential election to bring about an affair she allegedly had with Trump in 2006.

The former president has denied having an affair with Daniels and has maintained his innocence in the case, accusing prosecutors of involvement in a politically motivated witch hunt. However, prosecutors believe the payment violated campaign finance laws. He has responded to the indictment with a spate of posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, attacking prosecutors.

While speaking to NBC’s Meet the press On Sunday, Vance said, “I was disturbed to hear the former president speak the way he has spoken about District Attorney Bragg and even the court for the past week.”

WATCH: Fmr. Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. says fmr. President Trump should be careful not to commit any other crime.

“If you add a count like [obstruction of governmental administration] …it could change the jury’s mind about the seriousness of the case.” pic.twitter.com/zJjC5PyUPi

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 2, 2023

He added, “If I were his attorney … I would be careful not to commit other offenses such as obstructing government administration, disrupting or interfering with government operations by threat or otherwise.”

The former president was an outspoken critic of Bragg, calling out for his “soft” approach to New York City. Writing on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said: “NEW CRIMINAL STATISTICS ARE RELEASED IN MANHATTAN, PLACE RULED BY THE RADICAL LEFT, SOROS SUPPORTS ATTORNEY – ALVIN BRAGG. THE NUMBERS ARE A COMPLETE AND PERFECT DISASTER…AT LEAST HE CAN TELL HIS TRUMP-HATING WIFE AND FRIENDS THAT HE WAS AFTER THE VERY SUCCESSIVE 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. MAGA!”

Vance concluded Sunday that he believes Trump’s rhetoric towards Bragg might raise “not the strongest case” and make it tougher in the mind of a jury.

That said the political scientist and professor at Dillard University, Robert Collins news week on Sunday: “Trump’s lawyers should advise him not to attack Bragg. It is against the law in New York to threaten a prosecutor. So if Trump isn’t careful, he could file an additional criminal complaint.”

While discussing the indictment and how it could affect Trump’s 2024 presidential prospects, Collins said, “Unless he’s put in jail and physically disabled from campaigning, there’s nothing stopping him from staying in the running.” . There is nothing in the US Constitution that prevents an impeached president from running for office, even if he has been impeached on multiple occasions.”

Collins concluded: “His campaign organization is already using the indictment positively because it is used to raise campaign funds. A slew of new fundraising emails went out to Trump supporters this weekend, imploring them to donate more money to the campaign because they argue he needs it for his legal defense. So they’re going to collect millions from the indictment and indictment publicity.”

Meanwhile, Trump plans to turn himself in to authorities in New York City on Tuesday. He says he will make comments after the arraignment at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Fla., home around 8:15 p.m