Alvin Leonard Bragg Jr. (born October 21, 1973) is an American politician and lawyer from New York who is serving as the New York County District Attorney. In 2021, he became the first African American elected to that office.[1] Bragg previously served as chief deputy attorney general of New York and as an assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York.
A careful reading of Mr. Bragg's bio indicates some puffing and a lack of candor. i.e. Everything you read contains the statement "Harvard Law School grad", over and over again. Yet, after some digging, I have yet to determine what year he graduated from Harvard and what year he was admitted to the bar, in the same paragraph. Such a lack of important bio facts suggest a coverup. Probably because he failed the bar exam.
A basic rule of American society is never, ever, ever, hire a lawyer that failed the bar exam. You will be sorry. The good people of New York County hired this man and are now seeing a free fall in criminal prosecutions coupled with the dedication of all their resources to the prosecution of a former president via trumped up charges. They will soon be sorry.
Early life and education
Bragg is from Harlem, and grew up on Striver's Row.[2] In an interview with The American Prospect, Bragg said that he had been "deeply affected by the criminal justice system – most directly through three gunpoint stops by the NYPD."[3] He graduated from the Trinity School[4] before attending Harvard College. He graduated from Harvard cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in government in 1995,[2][5] and earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Civil Rights–Civil Liberties Law Review.[5][4]
Early career
Bragg clerked for federal district judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. before he joined the law firm Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello as an associate, where his work focused on white collar fraud and civil rights issues. In 2003, he joined the office of the Attorney General of New York under Eliot Spitzerbefore becoming the chief of litigation and investigations for the New York City Council. In 2009, Bragg left the city council to serve as assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York.[6]
In 2017, Eric Schneiderman, then serving as attorney general, appointed Bragg Chief Deputy Attorney General of New York.[7] Bragg ran the criminal justice and social justice divisions, overseeing lawsuits brought by the state against the Donald J. Trump Foundation, Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company, and the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 United States Census. He left the position in December 2018[8] and became a professor at the New York Law School, where he was co-director of the Racial Justice Project.[6] Bragg is a member of the board of directors for the Legal Aid Society. He has represented the families of Ramarley Graham and Eric Garner in civil litigation against New York City.[9]
New York County District Attorney
In June 2019, Bragg started his candidacy for the 2021 Democratic Party nomination for New York County District Attorney, then held by Cyrus Vance Jr.,[8] who did not to run for reelection.[10] Following the June 22, 2021 Democratic primary, Bragg led in the reported vote count and Tali Farhadian Weinsteinconceded the primary to Bragg on July 2.[11] On November 2, 2021, Bragg defeated Republican Thomas Kenniff in the general election, becoming the first African-American to be elected New York County District Attorney.[1]
Bragg was sworn into office on January 1, 2022.[12]
Policies on low-level offenses
On January 4, 2022, after three days in office, he announced that his office would no longer prosecute low-level offenses such as fare evasion, resisting arrest, prostitution, and cannabis-related misdemeanors unless accompanied by a felony charge. He also decided to seek lesser charges for burglaries and store robberies where the offender "displays a dangerous instrument but does not create a genuine risk of physical harm".[13] On January 20, Bragg disputed what he described was a "legalistic" interpretation of his prosecution policy memo and indicated that he supported a zero tolerance policy for violent crimes.[14]
Donald Trump prosecution
On February 23, 2022, Carey R. Dunne and Mark F. Pomerantz, the lead prosecutors in the New York County District Attorney's investigation into Donald Trump and his businesses, resigned abruptly after Bragg "indicated to them that he had doubts about moving forward with a case against Mr. Trump".[15] In his letter of resignation, Pomerantz wrote that the "team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes,[16]including falsifying business records, and that it was "a grave failure of justice"[16] not to pursue criminal charges.[17] The New York Times reported that Bragg "balked at pursuing an indictment against Mr. Trump" and lacked confidence proving in court that Trump "knowingly falsified the value of his assets on annual financial statements."[17] The Washington Post noted that Bragg was slow to meet with Dunne and Pomerantz after taking office and when they finally met to discuss the case, a source in the D.A.'s Office commented that Bragg seemed distracted and disengaged, continually checking his cell phone (allegations Bragg's spokesperson denied).[18]
On November 21, 2022, The New York Times reported that the district attorney's office "has moved to jump-start its criminal investigation" into Trump's reported "hush-money payment to a porn star who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump."[19] Bragg confirmed to CNN in January 2023 that the probe was ongoing.[20] On January 30, the office presented evidence to a grand jury regarding Trump's role in the payment.[21]
Jose Alba prosecution
On July 7, 2022, Jose Alba, a bodega clerk, was attacked by a customer in a dispute over a bag of potato chips. Alba attempted to de-escalate, but after being shoved into a wall, defended himself with a knife, killing the assailant.[22] Bragg, in his prosecutorial discretion, decided to charge Alba and requested bail at $500,000; the judge set it at $250,000.[23][24] The dead attacker's girlfriend also stabbed Alba with her own knife, after attempting to turn Alba's knife back on him. Bragg declined to charge her.[22] After intense backlash, Bragg ultimately decided to drop the charges against Alba, noting that "a homicide case against Alba could not be proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt".[25]
Steve Bannon prosecution
On September 6, 2022, The Washington Post reported that Steve Bannon would be indicted on September 8 by Bragg's prosecutors on the same charges of fraud that he was federally pardoned for by then-President Trump in 2020.[26] On September 8, Bannon was charged with "defrauding Americans who wanted to contribute to construction of a southern border wall, resurrecting a threat that Mr. Bannon seemed to have escaped with a 2021 presidential pardon", and that he pleaded not guilty.[27]
Personal life
Bragg married Jamila Marie Ponton in 2003.[28] They have two children.[5] Bragg at one time taught Sunday School at the Abyssinian Baptist Church.[29]
He didn't dig too deep. I found it in less than a minute.
ReplyDeleteJust enter Alvin Bragg >>> https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorneyservices/search?4
He definitely went to Harvard Law School >>>> https://hls.harvard.edu/ames-moot-court/ames-moot-court-competition-archive/1999-ames-moot-court-competition-spring/
MARXIST!!
ReplyDeleteHe should be disbarred.
ReplyDeleteMake way for DUKE!!
ReplyDeleteAll the things Trump could be prosecuted for and they pick bouncing a check to a whore? Are they afraid about who would have to visit the stand if his business crimes were scrutinized?Trump should use this trial to bring down the rickety government this country’s become.
ReplyDeleteWhy is he flying to New York I would make them drag me to New York in handcuffs in a prison van don't not cooperate Trump it's not a Federal Charge they can't make you go back to NY.
DeleteCommie Pinko!
ReplyDelete