The Manhattan prosecutor who convicted President Trump in the hush money case participated in multiple federal investigations against him while working at the Justice Department, newly obtained records reveal—a level of involvement far beyond what officials previously disclosed to the American public.

Deep Federal Ties Exposed

Matthew Colangelo, who delivered the opening statement in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump, attended at least three meetings related to the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation while serving as principal deputy associate attorney general. The meetings occurred before Colangelo resigned from the third-highest position in the Biden Justice Department to join Bragg’s team in December 2022. Calendar records obtained by America First Legal through litigation expose the prosecutor’s extensive involvement in Trump-related matters.

Colangelo also participated in a December 2021 meeting concerning the Justice Department’s position in E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuit against Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. An additional 12 calendar entries show meetings regarding a subpoena for former White House Counsel Don McGahn’s testimony on obstruction of justice findings from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

Political Connections Surface

Federal Election Commission records reveal Colangelo donated four hundred dollars to Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. The Democratic National Committee paid him twelve thousand dollars in January 2018 for political consulting services. When questioned about Colangelo’s departure to Manhattan, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland testified under oath that he had nothing to do with the prosecutor’s decision to join Bragg’s office.

Historic Conviction With No Penalty

Trump became the first former president convicted of criminal charges when a jury found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in May 2024. Judge Juan Merchan imposed a no-penalty sentence ten days before Trump’s second inauguration, eliminating any possibility of prison time or fines. Bragg’s office stated Colangelo would focus on housing protection, labor issues, and sensitive white-collar investigations. America First Legal’s Will Scolinos questioned what else the public has been misled about regarding the coordination between federal and state prosecutors targeting the president.