Here in Manhattan, the scales of justice are weighed down by politics.

But the district attorney, justice isn't blind.

It's about looking for opportunities to advance a political agenda, a radical political agenda.

He said that here in Manhattan, the scales of justice are being weighed down by politics, and they are, but only today.

In America, being rich, being powerful, even being

president of the United States, does not entitle you to violate the law with impunity.

The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee travels to New York City for partisan political

theater. We'll have much more about this grievance-fueled hearing in just a moment.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was also in New York talking about a plan to raise the debt ceiling,

but his proposal was missing several key details.

And we have the latest from Eastern Europe following a rare trip out of Russia by President

Vladimir Putin.

Good morning and welcome to way too early on this Tuesday, April 18th. I'm Jonathan Lemire.

Thanks for starting your day with us. Following a two-week recess, Congress was back in session yesterday.

But instead of legislating on Capitol Hill, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee took its work on

the road for a tense field hearing in New York City. In Manhattan, GOP

lawmakers looked to discredit the district attorney prosecuting former President Donald Trump there

by blaming him for a post-pandemic spike in violent crime. This, even as data shows, there's

actually been a decrease in crime in New York City since DA Alvin Bragg

took office last year. During the hearing, which had the name victims of violent crime in Manhattan,

Republicans brought in several witnesses personally affected by violence, who had varying degrees of

grievances towards the Democratic Party. Democrats, meanwhile, accused Republicans

...