Manhattan’s district attorney’s office has ramped up. Its yearlong investigation of Donald Trump again. With a new book by a former prosecutor who once detailed an investigation. Into just how close the former president came to being convicted. And lamented the friction with the new D.
NEW YORK (AP) — As the Manhattan district attorney’s. Office ramps up its yearlong investigation of Donald Trump. A new book by a former prosecutor details exactly. How close the former president came to being indicted — and laments friction with the new D.A. Put that plan on ice.
Mark Pomerantz, who oversaw the investigation until early last year, wrote in “People v. Donald Trump: An Inside Account.” That then-District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. gave him permission. To indict Trump in December 2021. After digging into Trump’s life and business. Pomerantz wrote that prosecutors agreed to a lawsuit alleging. That Trump falsified records by inflating the value of assets. In financial statements he provided to creditors.
Vance is leaving office in a few weeks, but he expressed confidence that his successor. Alvin Bragg, would agree with his assessment, Pomerantz wrote. But Bragg and his team had other ideas – expressing apprehension. About the strength of the evidence and the credibility of key witnesses.
They decided not to proceed. At least not at the pace Pomerantz and Co-Chief Prosecutor Kerry Dunn wanted. Pomerantz wrote. The stalemate forced both of them to leave the office. “Once again, Donald Trump danced in the raindrops of accountability.” Pomerantz wrote in the book, which is to be published Tuesday by Simon & Schuster.
The Associated Press and other news outlets obtained copies of the book on Friday.
Trump has threatened legal action against Pomerantz and Simon. & Schuster for what he claims are “defamatory statements.” And “baseless lies” about his alleged criminal conduct.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. And said the New York investigation was an attempt by Democrats to keep him out of the White House.
In a post on his Trump social platform, Trump said Pomerantz’s book was “going. To be a hit with the district attorney and the ‘weak’ case ‘with so many fatal flaws.’
Pomerantz’s 304-page volume chronicles his decades-long career as a Mafia prosecutor. And white-collar litigator, chronicling his bitter battle over whether to indict Trump. Those experiences contrast with Bragg’s work as a former federal prosecutor. law professor and, in the years before his election. A top official in the state attorney general’s. Office pursuing civil cases against Trump. The book also serves to temper the drama surrounding Pomerantz’s split from Bragg. Which became public last year. When his resignation letter was published in The New York Times.
Pomerantz portrays the dispute not as a quarrel. But as a legitimate difference of opinion shaped by long Zoom calls. And telephone conversations. During the session, Pomerantz wrote that he and Dunne would detail the pros. And cons of pursuing a Trump impeachment, while Bragg. Or members of his team pushed back with questions and concerns.
At first, Pomerantz writes, Bragg seemed overwhelmed by other matters. Managing the massive DA’s office and dealing with shocks from. His approach to prosecuting certain crimes. He wrote that Bragg showed up late to an initial meeting where he presented the case. And that Bragg spent most of the time looking at his phone. Da. The next session was more focused, Pomerantz said.
At one point, he wrote, Bragg said he “didn’t see a world” in which. He would impeach Trump and call Michael Cohen. Trump’s long-estranged former lawyer and fixer, as a witness.
Cohen, who claimed to have intimate knowledge of Trump’s financial dealings. Was convicted in a parallel federal case of lying to Congress.
Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, said in a statement Friday. “Mr. Mark Pomerantz and his team have treated us respectfully and professionally. We appreciate their honesty and hard work. Despite Mr. Cohen’s denial of allegations of his credibility. I can confirm that Mr. Cohen will continue to cooperate with DA Bragg. And his team, speaking truth to power — as he always has.”
Aside from a few blunt emails he wrote criticizing Bragg’s willfulness. Pomerantz said his rift with the D.A. was civil.
“There was no yelling or screaming,” he wrote of their final conversation in February 2022. Trump was bloodthirsty for some action,” Pomerantz wrote.
Bragg’s office sought to delay the book’s release last month, saying in a letter to Pomerantz. And Simon & Schuster that he was violating the confidentiality agreement. He signed after joining the DA’s office.
Pomerantz joined the D.A.’s office in 2021 as a special. Assistant district attorney to lead the Trump investigation. He wrote that early in his involvement they were investigating Trump. And his company for charges under state versions of federal. Racketeering laws, tax, fraud and other potential crimes.
Pomerantz compared Trump’s cunning, charisma and ability to “stay one step ahead of the law.” To the late Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, whose son, John A. Gotti. He prosecuted while an assistant US attorney.
When he arrived at the D.A.’s office, Pomerantz wrote, the investigation was. So broad “it seemed unfocused and sprawling.”
In 2021, Pomerantz’s team brought charges against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization. And its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weiselberg, for evading taxes. On fringe benefits paid to company executives. But Bragg and his team were the ones who brought cases to Weiselberg’s conviction. . Trump Organization convictions in August and December. Weiselberg is serving a five-month prison sentence and the company was fined $1.6 million.
Under Bragg’s direction, the district attorney’s. Office recently returned to a part of the investigation. That had long since been shelved: the 2016 payment by Trump to keep two women quiet about alleged matters.
Pomerantz portrayed the hush-money payments — made or arranged by Cohen. As perhaps the most challenging, legally fraught of potential cases against Trump.
He wrote that while a case could be made. That Trump falsified business records by logging Cohen’s compensation. For a payment as legal fees, he could only be charged with a misdemeanor under New York law. Unless prosecutors could prove he hid another. falsified records to do. . crime
Vance dropped the hush-money angle in 2019, focusing the investigation on other matters. But Pomerantz said he revisited it when he joined the office in January 2021. Looking for ways to prevent more serious criminal charges. He considered that Trump could be charged with money laundering. And explored if a woman who received the money, Stormy Daniels. Demanded money to keep quiet, leading to extortion.
Pomerantz said the hush money case became known around the office as a “zombie” case.
Still, “in the months that I and others have worked on this case, we have produced evidence. That convinces us that Donald Trump committed serious crimes,” Pomerantz wrote.
Even if a conviction isn’t guaranteed. Pomerantz said he feels they owe it to the public to bring the case to justice.
“It’s better to lose than not try,” he wrote.
