As a result of a Democratic lawmaker’s action, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been essentially put on notice, as critics view him as excessively lenient on crime, a trend they also attribute to an increase in citywide violence.

Fox News reported that “a Democratic New York City councilman plans to testify Monday that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has contributed to the ‘lawlessness’ on city streets in a field hearing held by the House Judiciary Committee.”

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Robert Holden identified himself as a Democrat and lifelong New Yorker. Since 2018, he has served as the representative for the 30th district. Holden acknowledged having issues with Bragg since Bragg’s appointment as district attorney in 2022. He asserts that Bragg is responsible for New York City’s rising crime rate.

“When Bragg came in, he issued that ridiculous edict that he was not going to prosecute smaller crimes,” Holden said. “What do we have in New York City? We have lawlessness on the streets.

“I have never seen the lawlessness we are seeing now,” he added.

In 2022, Bragg succeeded Cyrus Vance, Jr., another far-left district attorney.

The hearing will be held at the Javits Federal Building on Monday at 9 a.m. The objective is to “examine how Bragg’s pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime and a more dangerous community for New York City residents.”

Holden stated that Bragg’s “day one memo” had “raised alarm bells throughout the city.”

On the third day after assuming office, Bragg issued a memo instructing prosecutors not to seek prison time for a variety of crimes and to reduce charges for others, including robberies and commercial burglaries. The district attorney also proclaimed that cases involving trespassing, resisting arrest, and fare evasion would no longer be prosecuted.

“Under his policy, petty theft, even resisting arrest, prostitution, public urination will not be prosecuted,” Holden said. “This is a DA saying to that to the public.

“It is just stupid,” he noted further. “It’s just dumb.”

In addition, it appears that at least some responsibility for rising crime rates and recurrent illicit behavior lies with members of his own party.

“We have a bad combination in New York,” he said. “There were 17 straight years of downward crime in New York City until that 2019 bail reform law.”

Due to these changes, NYPD officers are no longer prepared to engage suspects.

“Even if they do engage, they’re going to get district attorneys like Bragg who are going to say, ‘We’re not prosecuting,’” he said.

“I credit Rudy Giuliani as the mayor who saved New York,” Holden said of the former Republican mayor. “I lived through that. They don’t like to hear it. But I lived through it.”

Holden identifies himself as one of two moderate Democrats on the NYC council, whereas the other members are “socialists.”

“We lived through the Cold War, and socialism did not work and still doesn’t work,” he said.

It is frequently suggested that he switch parties, but he has not done so.

“They say, ‘You should change parties,’ but I say, ‘Why?” I can offer a voice of reason in the Democrat caucus,” he said. “Most of the Democrats in New York City do not agree with their elected officials.

“I am not into this political game at all. This is to serve my constituents and to serve my neighborhoods.”

More on this story via The Republic Brief:

Besides Holden, Committee Chairman Jim Jordan invited other witnesses to testify alongside him on Monday. New York City Detectives’ Endowment Association head Paul DiGiacomo will testify along with Jewish man Joseph Borgen, who suffered severe injuries during an attack at a pro-Israel rally. CONTINUE READING…