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'{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Alvin Bragg | office = 37th [[New York County District Attorney|District Attorney of New York County]] | term_start = January 1, 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Cyrus Vance Jr.]] | successor = | birth_date = | birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | education = [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]]) }} '''Alvin Leonard Bragg Jr.''' is an American politician and lawyer from the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]] who is serving as the [[New York County District Attorney]]. In 2021, he became the first African-American and first person of color elected to that office.<ref name=electedDA>{{cite news |last1=Cline-Thomas |first1=Aundrea |title=Alvin Bragg Elected As Manhattan’s First Black District Attorney |url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/11/02/voters-to-elect-new-manhattan-da-will-be-just-the-4th-person-to-hold-the-office-in-80-years/ |publisher=CBS News, New York |date=November 2, 2021}}</ref> Bragg previously served as chief deputy attorney general of New York and as an assistant [[United States Attorney]] in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]]. ==Early life and education== Bragg is from [[Harlem]], and grew up on [[Striver's Row]].<ref name=crimson/> In an interview with ''[[The American Prospect]]'', Bragg noted that he had been "deeply affected by the criminal justice system – most directly through three gunpoint stops by the NYPD."<ref>{{cite web|last=Khardori|first=Ankush|date=July 13, 2021|title=Restorative Justice Requires an 'All-of-the-Above Approach'|url=https://prospect.org/api/content/0d13faec-e336-11eb-aea4-1244d5f7c7c6/|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=[[The American Prospect]]|language=en-us}}</ref> He graduated from the [[Trinity School (New York City)|Trinity School]]<ref name=wsj/> before attending [[Harvard College]]. He graduated from Harvard ''[[cum laude]]'' with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in government in 1995<ref name=crimson>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1995/6/8/the-anointed-one-pon-the-evening/|title=The Anointed One: Students see Alvin Bragg as Conciliator|work=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|first=Anna D.|last=Wilde|date=June 8, 1995|accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref><ref name=patch>{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/washington-heights-inwood/manhattan-district-attorney-race-alvin-bragg-profile |title=Manhattan District Attorney Race: Alvin Bragg Profile|website=Patch.com|first=Gus |last=Saltonstall |date=June 16, 2021 |accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> and earned his [[Juris Doctor]] from [[Harvard Law School]], where he was an editor of the ''[[Harvard Civil Rights–Civil Liberties Law Review|Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review]]''.<ref name=patch/><ref name=wsj>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/alvin-bragg-leans-on-harlem-roots-in-manhattan-district-attorney-race-11620576001|title=Alvin Bragg Leans on Harlem Roots in Manhattan District Attorney Race|first=Deanna |last=Paul |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=May 9, 2021|accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> ==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 Spitzer]] before 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 [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite journal|first=Dan M.|last=Clark|url=https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2018/12/10/ny-chief-deputy-ag-heading-to-new-york-law-school-teaching-post/|title=NY Chief Deputy AG Heading to New York Law School Teaching Post|journal=[[New York Law Journal]]|publisher=[[ALM (company)|ALM]]|location=New York City|url-access=subscription|date=December 10, 2018|accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> In 2017, [[Eric Schneiderman]], then serving as attorney general, appointed Bragg Chief Deputy Attorney General of New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2017/ag-schneiderman-announces-appointment-new-chief-deputy-attorney-general-alvin |title=A.G. Schneiderman Announces Appointment Of New Chief Deputy Attorney General Alvin Bragg And Executive Deputy Attorney General Margaret Garnett &#124; New York State Attorney General |publisher=Ag.ny.gov |date=September 18, 2017 |accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> 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 [[Department of Commerce v. New York|citizenship question]] on the [[2020 United States Census]]. He left the position in December 2018<ref name=announce/> and became a professor at the [[New York Law School]], where he was co-director of the Racial Justice Project.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|first=Theodore|last=Hamm|url=https://indypendent.org/2020/08/a-life-long-fight-for-justice-spurred-alvin-bragg-into-the-manhattan-da-race/ |title=A Life-Long Fight For Justice Spurred Alvin Bragg Into the Manhattan DA Race |work=The Indypendent |date=August 6, 2020 |accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> ==New York County District Attorney== In June 2019, Bragg announced his candidacy for the 2021 Democratic Party nomination for [[New York County District Attorney]], then held by [[Cy Vance]],<ref name=announce>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-alvin-bragg-democratic-primary-campaign-manhattan-da-cy-vance-20190618-r2faz5bpw5a4ldnkxlodx7mrfy-story.html|title=Alvin Bragg announces Democratic primary campaign against Manhattan DA Cy Vance|first=Anna|last=Sanders|work=[[The New York Daily News]]|date=June 18, 2019|accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> who opted not to run for reelection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://politi.co/3xN67Me|title=Former federal prosecutor close to winning Manhattan DA primary|first=Erin|last=Durkin|website=[[Politico|Politico PRO]]|date=June 23, 2021}}</ref> Following the June 22, 2021 Democratic primary, Bragg led in the reported vote count and [[Tali Farhadian Weinstein]] conceded the primary to Bragg on July 2.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/nyregion/alvin-bragg-district-attorney-trump.html |title=Bragg Set to Be Manhattan's Next D.A., and a Potential Trump Scourge |work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jonah E.|last=Bromwich |date=June 22, 2021 |accessdate=July 2, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref name=electedDA/> Bragg was sworn into office on January 1, 2022.<ref>{{cite news|first=Caroline|last=Vakil|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/587857-first-black-manhattan-da-sworn-in-to-take-over-trump-case |title=First Black Manhattan DA sworn in, to take over Trump case |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=January 1, 2022 |accessdate=January 22, 2022}}</ref> === Controversies in office === ==== Declining to prosecute certain crimes ==== On January 4, 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 announced that his office would 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".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2022/01/04/manhattan-da-alvin-bragg-low-level-offenses/ |title=Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Says His Office Won’t Prosecute Fare Evasion, Resisting Arrest, Prostitution And More Without Accompanying Felony Charge|website=[[CBS New York]]|date=January 5, 2022 |accessdate=January 22, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-manhattan-da-alvin-bragg-clarifies-confusing-day-one-memo-20220120-gj2ifc7f55cbfnrsuebdgoice4-story.html|title=Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg says he’s not soft on violent crime, clarifies ‘legalistic’ memo that outlined prosecution policies|first=Noah|last=Goldberg|newspaper=[[The New York Daily News]]|date=January 20, 2022|accessdate=January 20, 2022}}</ref> ==== Preventing 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".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rashbaum|first=William K.|last2=Protess|first2=Ben|last3=Bromwich|first3=Jonah E.|last4=Christobek|first4=Kate|last5=Schweber|first5=Nate|date=February 23, 2022|title=2 Prosecutors Leading N.Y. Trump Inquiry Resign, Clouding Case’s Future|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/nyregion/trump-ny-fraud-investigation.html|access-date=February 24, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In his letter of resignation, Pomerantz wrote that the "team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes,<ref name="MFPLetter">{{Cite news |date=March 23, 2022|title=Read the Full Text of Mark Pomerantz's Resignation Letter |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/nyregion/mark-pomerantz-resignation-letter.html |access-date=March 24, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> including falsifying business records, and that it was “a grave failure of justice”<ref name="MFPLetter"/> not to pursue criminal charges.<ref name="NYTTrumpArticle">{{Cite news |last=Rashbaum |first=William K. |last2=Protess |first2=Ben |last3=Bromwich |first3=Jonah E. |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Trump Is Guilty of ‘Numerous’ Felonies, Prosecutor Who Resigned Says |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/nyregion/trump-investigation-felony-resignation-pomerantz.html |access-date=2022-03-23 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ''[[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."<ref name="NYTTrumpArticle" /> ''[[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).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/why-does-new-yorks-criminal-investigation-of-donald-trump-appear-all-but-over|title=Why Does New York’s Criminal Investigation of Donald Trump Appear All But Over? After promising to prioritize the case, the new Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, seems to have abandoned it|work=[[The New Yorker]]|first=Jane|last=Mayer|author-link=Jane Mayer|date=February 24, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref> ==== Alleged victim-blaming ==== On July 7, 2022, Jose Alba, a bodega clerk, was attacked by a customers in a dispute over a bag of potato chips. Alba attempted to deescalate, but after being shoved into a wall, defended himself with a knife, killing the assailant.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cunnington • • |first=Jessica |title=New Video Shows Girlfriend Stab NYC Bodega Worker After Confrontation Turned Deadly |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/new-video-shows-girlfriend-stab-nyc-bodega-worker-after-confrontation-turned-deadly/3769959/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=NBC New York |language=en-US}}</ref> Bragg, in his prosecutorial discretion, decided to charge Alba and requested bail at $250,000.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/nyregion/bodega-stabbing-jose-alba.html Adams Shows Support for Man Charged in Bodega Killing That Caused Outcry, ''<nowiki/>'']''[[The New York Times]]''</ref> The bail was eventually set at $50,000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-08 |title=NYC deli worker Jose Alba released from Rikers Island after being charged with murdering ex-con who attacked him in store |url=https://www.theblaze.com/news/jose-alba-released-50k-bail |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=TheBlaze |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cunnington • • |first=Jessica |title=New Video Shows Girlfriend Stab NYC Bodega Worker After Confrontation Turned Deadly |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/new-video-shows-girlfriend-stab-nyc-bodega-worker-after-confrontation-turned-deadly/3769959/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=NBC New York |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Personal life== Bragg married Jamila Marie Ponton in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/02/style/weddings-celebrations-jamila-ponton-alvin-bragg-jr.html |title=WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Jamila Ponton, Alvin Bragg Jr. |work=The New York Times |date=November 2, 2003 |accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> They have two children.<ref name=patch/> ==References== {{reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=[[Cyrus Vance Jr.]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[New York County District Attorney|District Attorney of New York County]]|years=2022–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Manhattan DA}} {{Current prosecutors of New York City}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bragg, Alvin}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:African-American people in New York (state) politics]] [[Category:American prosecutors]] [[Category:Harvard College alumni]] [[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New York (state) Democrats]] [[Category:New York (state) lawyers]] [[Category:New York County District Attorneys]] [[Category:New York Law School faculty]] [[Category:People from Harlem]] [[Category:Politicians from New York City]] [[Category:Trinity School (New York City) alumni]]'