D.C. lawmakers travel to the big apple to hear from victims of violent crimes

A U.S. House committee is hearing directly from New York City crime victims as they ramp up their investigations into Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for dereliction of duty.

U.S. lawmakers embarked on a field trip on Monday to Manhattan.

Members sitting on the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing in New York City on the astronomical crime plaguing the big apple.

Several witnesses testified on how D.A. Bragg’s soft on crime policies have turned Manhattan from a thriving metropolis, into a dangerous place to raise a family, claiming his office has empowered criminals, while targeting innocent New Yorkers, who had fought back when being attacked.

Democratic lawmakers on the committee say that the hearing is simply political payback, arguing that Chairman Jim Jordan is trying to discredit Bragg, as he moves forward it his prosecution of former President Trump.

But, Republicans say Bragg is not doing his job and his office has only served to escalate the city’s crime problem.

In 2022, Bragg downgraded more than 50 per cent of the felony cases to misdemeanours and he only successfully convicted half of those cases.

Overall, crime in New York City in 2022 was up 22 per cent.