Billionaire George Soros denies funding Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg

Soros refutes links to Bragg

Billionaire George Soros has denied any association with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg ahead of the indictment of former President Donald Trump. Trump has previously claimed that Bragg was “hand-picked and funded” by Soros, a claim that Soros denies. Responding to Semafor Friday, Soros stated that he did not donate to Bragg’s election campaign and that he did not know him.

Soros criticises conspiracy theories

Soros believes that “some on the right” would rather focus on “far-fetched” conspiracy theories than the “serious charges against the former president.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and J.D. Vance have also criticised Bragg, with Trump claiming that he had received more than $1m in funding from Soros. Soros spokesperson Michael Vachon stated that there had been no contact between Soros and Bragg, and that they had never met.

Soros’ funding of Bragg’s campaign

Although Soros did not donate directly to Bragg’s campaign, his son and daughter-in-law gave more than $20,000 to Bragg’s 2021 campaign, according to the New York State Board of Elections. Soros made a $1m donation to the Color of Change PAC, which supported Bragg’s campaign with $500,000. However, an official for the group stated that this donation was not intended to influence Bragg’s prosecutorial decisions, nor was it directly meant to fund Bragg.

Claims against Soros

Republicans have accused Soros of a range of unfounded allegations in recent years, including that he organised protests against the police killing of George Floyd and sponsored demonstrations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination. These unfounded claims are viewed as an antisemitic trope that Jewish people are behind a shadow campaign to influence society and world order, according to some Jewish organisations like the Anti-Defamation League. The Anti-Defamation League stated that even if being antisemitic was not intended, the implication that a Jewish individual is a “puppet master” can have the effect of mainstreaming antisemitic tropes.

Soros’ philanthropy and net worth

Soros is worth $6.7bn and has been known for his philanthropy to progressive causes. Soros expressed his support for criminal justice reforms in a 2018 Wall Street Journal column, where he argued for more preventive measures and mental-health resources while stating that there is no correlation between prosecutorial reform and a rise in crime.

Credit: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/03/31/george-soros-denies-gop-conspiracy-suggesting-he-backed-da-bragg/

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