Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., on Monday said a House Judiciary Committee "field hearing" in New York City is intended "to show the hypocrisy" of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in his pursuit of former President Donald Trump amid the city's own crime woes.
In an interview on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," Fitzgerald said he's not expecting Bragg to show up and lamented the "circus" the hearing had been turned into by Democrats.
"This hearing in Manhattan invited the District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He was invited," committee member Fitzgerald said. "I'm not anticipating that he'll be a part of that. But you can see kind of with the comments and this countersuit that happened against [committee] chairman [Jim] Jordan [R-Ohio] all highlights that this has become a real circus. And unfortunately, I think there are even some members of the committee, Democrats, that will be there today, that are going to go along with the whole charade."
According to Fitzgerald, talks began weeks ago about "whether or not there would be a way to kind of demonstrate and show the hypocrisy of what we're seeing at the district attorney office."
"At the end of the day, chairman Jordan and the members agreed that this is something so significant and what [Bragg] has done with the political persecution of President Trump that it would be … two different things that we could work on at the same time. Let's talk a little bit about District Attorney Bragg and the issues going on and in New York City, and at the same time he's got the resources and time and can put forth the effort to go after the former president, so we thought a way of highlighting all of that."
Fitzgerald said eight witnesses will be called — six invited by Republicans and two called by Democrats — who will elaborate on what he asserted has been a 23% spike in crimes in New York City.
"A number have either family members who've been victims of their crimes … or have made it their goal to highlight this," Fitzgerald said, adding New York City Mayor Eric Adams — who denies there is a crime spike — is "playing with percentages… he's playing loose with the idea that there's specific crimes that are not unique to New York."
Fitzgerald also said he expects his state of Wisconsin to continue to be important in the presidential race in 2024.
"There are two key areas … Milwaukee and Dane County," which is the county where Madison is located. "They are locked down by the Democrats," he acknowledged.
But in "the rural part" of the state, "it's Trump country."
When it comes times for the Democratic Party to hold its convention in Chicago, he said, it'll be "interesting."
"[It's] crime ridden … there's a ton of issues," he said of the planned site. "Interesting selection. They're going to have their hands full with security there."
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
Fran Beyer ✉
Fran Beyer is a writer with Newsmax and covers national politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.