# Alvin Bragg sues Jim Jordan. What does "sue" mean in this context?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alvin-bragg-sues-jim-jordan-what-does-sue-mean-in-this-context/982564>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 12, 2023, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alvin-bragg-sues-jim-jordan-what-does-sue-mean-in-this-context/982564 "2023-04-12T10:32:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alvin-bragg-sues-jim-jordan-what-does-sue-mean-in-this-context/982564/1 "2023-04-12T10:32:10Z")

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To me, “sue” means to get money from.

But I’m sure that’s not the case here. Does this just mean Bragg wants a Federal judge to tell Jordan to stop it?

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**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alvin-bragg-sues-jim-jordan-what-does-sue-mean-in-this-context/982564/2 "2023-04-12T10:52:43Z")

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As I understand it, Jordan has sent several subpoenas demanding former staff testify and requesting a bunch of documents. Bragg wants them quashed.

From [here](https://www.npr.org/2023/04/11/1169302613/bragg-lawsuit-jim-jordan-trump-indictment):

> ### What’s in Bragg’s lawsuit against Jordan?
> 
> Now with this lawsuit, Bragg is hitting back at the committee, suing to block Pomerantz from testifying. He said Congress has no power to investigate local prosecutors, and that the subpoena violates state sovereignty, and is politically motivated.

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**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alvin-bragg-sues-jim-jordan-what-does-sue-mean-in-this-context/982564/3 "2023-04-12T12:54:19Z")

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There a various forms of relief that one can “sue” for, including money.

Here, the House Committee on the Judiciary (of which Jordan is chairman) issued a subpoena to Mark Pomerantz (a former Special Assistant District Attorney in the New York County DA’s Office who had been brought in by Bragg’s predecessor to investigate Trump).

Bragg is suing Jordan and the House Committee (and Pomerantz) seeking a declaration that the subpoena is invalid and that the information that Pomerantz has is privileged (and quashing the subpoena and/or enjoining Pomerantz from complying with the subpoena). He is also seeking a declaration that any future subpoenas the Committee issues are invalid.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alvin-bragg-sues-jim-jordan-what-does-sue-mean-in-this-context/982564/4 "2023-04-12T23:48:48Z")

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Sue does mean more than get money from, so it’s actually being used correctly, unlike many legal terms.

> a **:** to seek justice or right from (a person) by legal process
> 
> specifically **:** to bring an action against
> 
> b **:** to proceed with and follow up (a legal action) to proper termination