Quick Hit: 

Matthew Colangelo, a top prosecutor in the case against former President Trump, was previously paid by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for "political consulting". Colangelo, who delivered opening statements in Trump's criminal trial, left a senior role at the Biden Justice Department to join Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's team.

Key Details: 

• Colangelo received two payments of $6,000 from the DNC in 2018, totaling $12,000, as per Federal Election Commission records.
• At the time of the payments, Colangelo was serving as the deputy attorney general for social justice in then-New York Attorney General Eric Scheiderman's office.
• Months after receiving the payments, Colangelo, as executive deputy attorney general, filed a lawsuit against the Trump Foundation.

Diving Deeper: 

Colangelo's role in the Trump prosecution has raised questions among some in the GOP about the alleged politicization of the case. His transition from a senior role at the Biden Justice Department to Bragg's team, and the subsequent charges brought against Trump, have been viewed with suspicion.

Colangelo's history with the DNC dates back to 2018 when he was paid for "political consulting". This was during his tenure in the New York Attorney General's Office, where he worked on Trump lawsuits and investigations. His involvement with the DNC continued during his time in the Biden Justice Department, where he oversaw multiple departments including the Civil, Civil Rights, Antitrust and Tax Divisions.

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has demanded that Attorney General Merrick Garland release records related to Colangelo's employment at the Justice Department. This is part of their oversight of what they term as "politically motivated prosecutions by state and local officials".