New York's attorney general, who is investigating Donald Trump for a scandal cover-up, said the former US president had contributed to a "false prediction" about his impending arrest, as tensions mounted over possible indictment.
The position came in a letter from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office Alvin Prague on Thursday to three Republican congressmen who had written to him requesting that he appear before Congress on his investigation.
In Monday's letter, Republicans, who are chairman of House committees, accused Prague of launching a "politically motivated prosecution."
The letter was sent after Trump said on Saturday, without giving any evidence, that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday, which he did not already.
On Thursday, Leslie Dubek, general counsel at the New York District Attorney's Office, seen by AFP, said: "Your letter is an unprecedented interference in an ongoing domestic prosecution."
"The letter was only received after Donald Trump made a false prediction about his arrest the next day and urged his lawyers to intervene urgently. Neither incident constitutes a legitimate basis for a congressional investigation."
Trump caused major media confusion by posting on his platform Truth Social that he would be formally charged and "arrested."
His supporters have called for protests, prompting the NYPD to erect barricades in front of the Prague office, Trump Tower and the courthouse. But it was not clear when any charges would be brought.
The jury tasked with voting whether to impeach Trump is not scheduled to meet this week, meaning no decision will be made until next week at the earliest.
If the 76-year-old Trump is indicted, it would set a precedent in the United States, as no American president has ever been indicted, whether he is in office or has left the White House.
Such a development would cause a major setback in the 2024 presidential campaign, which Trump plans to run in pursuit of re-election.
The case of actress Stormy Daniels, who is suspected of being paid by Trump to cover up a relationship they had years ago, is legally complicated.
The judiciary in New York is seeking to determine whether Trump is guilty of falsifying data — a misdemeanor — or violating campaign finance laws — in what constitutes a criminal offense (punishable by up to four years in prison) — by paying $130,2016 to the woman, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in the weeks leading up to the November <> election.
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer who later became his worst enemy, told the jury that he had paid on behalf of his client at the time, who returned the money to him once he took office.
Experts say proving the facts in court will be difficult. Any sentence of imprisonment appears to be inconclusive. Trump denies the case, calling it a "campaign of persecution."