The Gist Inside the Only Trump Trial (So Far)
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Jun 12, 2025 Journalist Jonah Bromwich, known for his insights into high-profile trials, shares his take on the only Trump trial to reach a verdict. He discusses how Alvin Bragg used a little-known election law to revive a fraught case. Bromwich reveals how Trump's narrative skills outshone the prosecution’s storytelling in the public sphere. The conversation also touches on the challenges prosecutors face balancing legal ethics with electoral pressures, while considering the fallout from a new Harvey Weinstein verdict.
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Bragg's Progressive Yet Tough Tenure
- Alvin Bragg ran as a progressive prosecutor focused on leniency for low-level crimes and toughness on serious crimes.
- His tenure started amid rising crime and political backlash, complicating his handling of the Trump prosecution.
Novel Use of State Election Law
- Bragg used a novel legal theory involving a state election law to prosecute Trump over hush money payments.
- This approach was daring and unique, focusing on conspiracy to affect the 2016 election.
Opacity Breeds Conspiracy Theories
- Prosecutors rarely discuss their motivations publicly, creating opacity around politically sensitive cases.
- This lack of transparency fuels conspiracy theories about prosecutorial intent against Trump.