Staff Reports
In a scathing response to New York DA Alvin Bragg’s overzealous prosecution of individuals who purchased and used fake COVID vaccine cards, the New York Supreme Court did not hold back. Bragg went all out against New Yorkers who violated the city’s vaccine mandate and resorted to using counterfeit vaccination cards to keep their jobs during the pandemic. A handful of people were charged in connection with this case, most of whom pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. However, two employees decided to contest the charges and it was these two individuals that Bragg mercilessly targeted.
However, the state’s high court found it rather peculiar that Bragg would go after these vaccine “dodgers” with such intensity, while at the same time showing leniency towards suspects involved in serious crimes such as murder, theft, and drug charges. Justice Brendan T. Lantry, in his recent ruling, dismissed the felony charges brought against these two individuals by Bragg, referring to the selection as a “cherry-picking” exercise on the part of Bragg’s office.
Bragg continues to prove he’s nothing but a joke! A total political operative! The Supreme Court of New York seems to agree!
NY Supreme Court Slams Anti-Trump DA For Enforcing Harsh Vaccine Card Punishment On Residentshttps://t.co/HqHwSigecG
— Dmturk (@abledanm) February 8, 2024
Justice Lantry noted that criminal possession of a forged instrument is not one of the most serious crimes in New York’s Penal Law, and the allegations against the defendants were also not particularly grave. He further highlighted the stark contrast in the gravity of the crimes typically adjudicated by the Supreme Court when compared to the vaccine card cases. While the Supreme Court does not usually get involved in minor matters like these, Justice Lantry expressed his astonishment at the cases that Bragg chooses to overlook.
He pointed out how Bragg routinely moves to dismiss far more serious charges for the sake of justice or to avoid immigration consequences. Lantry criticized the late timing of these motions, which sometimes occur months or even years after the expiration of the 45-day period to dismiss cases. These motions involve crimes such as sexual assault, drug sales, robbery, burglary, and other violent and non-violent major felonies.
Joseph Borelli, the Republican City Council Minority Leader of Staten Island, celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling and called Alvin Bragg a clown. Borelli highlighted the absurdity of prosecuting a frightened woman who never even used the fake card, while simultaneously letting violent criminals walk free. The allegations against Bragg’s office gained prominence when he released several illegal immigrants who were caught on video attacking New York City police officers.
