Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has no problem inflating dubious misdemeanor charges against President Donald Trump into felonies, yet when it comes to real-life career criminals, even violent ones, he does the opposite — reducing felonies to mere misdemeanors.
That’s what he did last week for Rodney Johnson, 53, who has nearly 90 collars (yes, 90!) on his rap sheet going back to the ’80s.
The charges include domestic violence after he allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend, robbery with intent to cause physical injury, extensive narcotics sales and more.
He’s done time in state prison for robbery and grand larceny and blown off a court-ordered intervention program three times in connection to a felony robbery case.
None of that mattered to Bragg & Co.
When cops hauled in Johnson on third-degree robbery charges over thefts at two Manhattan pharmacies — including one where he’s said to have threatened workers with pepper spray — the DA’s office dropped all charges to misdemeanor menacing and petty larceny.
A judge offered the lifelong culprit release on just $1 bail on previous charges.
How long before Johnson is nabbed yet again on some new heinous charge?
Bragg made clear from the moment he took office that his top priority is to keep criminals out of jail and free to roam the streets — normally the goal of defense attorneys.
And he’s lived up to his vow all too well, lowering charges against countless perps (or not even bringing them in the first place) and seeking minimum penalties for the worst offenders.
At least, offenders not named Trump. How many man-hours has Bragg’s office burned on that case?
How has it “saved” by dropping charges against real menaces like Rodney Johnson?
Manhattan needs a DA focused on public safety, not on prosecutions most Americans see as purely political.