The New York Supreme Court issued a tough response to the lengths to which New York Attorney General Alvin Bragg went to prosecute citizens who bought and swiped counterfeit Covid vaccine cards during the pandemic.
Bragg went hammer and tongs against New Yorkers who were caught flouting the city's vaccination mandate and using fake proof of coronavirus vaccination cards so they could keep their jobs during the pandemic years.
Just over a dozen people were charged in the case after they reportedly purchased counterfeit fax cards from a New Jersey stripper named Yasmine Clifford. Most of these accused “criminals” pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in their cases, but two employees contested the charges, Townhall reported.
Bragg, who is also involved in cases attacking former President Donald Trump, then threw the book at the two employees.
With the weight of Bragg's office thrown at them, the New York State Supreme Court was summoned to consider Bragg's actions. The court was not happy at all.
In fact, the state Supreme Court found it strange that Bragg would crack down on such vaccine evaders, even as he went lenient on suspects accused of serious crimes such as murder, robbery and drug charges.
In the latest state Supreme Court ruling, Judge Brendan T. Lantry dismissed Bragg's criminal charges against two vaccine card counterfeiters, identified as JO and RV in court documents released Jan. 30.
“Joe, a nursing student, and RV, an employee with the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, were among hundreds accused of purchasing fake vaccination cards from New Jersey stripper Jasmine Clifford,” the New York Post wrote.
The judge went on to state that the two of the 16 people brought up on a felony charge of possession of a forged instrument had been “carefully selected” by Bragg's office.
“Clearly, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument (Penal Law § 170.25) is not among the most serious offenses in New York penal law, nor are the factual allegations against defendants RV and JO particularly serious in nature,” Justice Lantry wrote in his opinion.
“Furthermore, the factual allegations — that the defendants purchased counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards so they could present them to their employer (RV) and school (JO) — fall short of the majority,” Lantry continued. Among the crimes adjudicated by the New York County Supreme Court are murder, sexual assault, drug selling, robbery, and other serious violent and non-violent crimes.
But while the Supreme Court doesn't typically hear small potato cases like fax card cases, he also noted how “surprised” he was about the cases Bragg was ignoring.
In his decision, Lantry criticized that Bragg “routinely — almost daily — moves.”[s] “Dismiss the most serious charges or entire indictments in the interest of justice simply to nullify the consequences of New York's original criminal sentencing laws or to avoid immigration consequences.”
“These suggestions have been made,” Lantry added [by Bragg and his prosecutors] They are taken months or even years after the end of the 45-day period to dismiss…sexual assaults, drug sales, robberies, and other serious violent and non-violent crimes.
Republican City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borrelli of Staten Island celebrated the Supreme Court ruling.
Borrelli noted that Jo got the fake card just so she could continue her education at nursing school, and later ended up getting the vaccine out of fear of government action, anyway.
“This is Alvin Bragg, a clown,” Borrelli said in a statement. “Imagine putting a terrified woman on trial for this, even though she didn't even use the fake card, and at the same time letting violent criminals walk away. I'm glad the judge called it up for the world to see.”
Accusations that Bragg's office routinely ignores serious crimes were highlighted last week when it released several illegal immigrants who were seen on video attacking several New York City police officers.
This article originally appeared in The Western Journal.
