Bragg was born in New York City on October 21, 1973. He hails 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 left the position in December 2018[9] and became a professor at the New York Law School, where he was co-director of the Racial Justice Project.[7] 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.[10]
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., who did not run for reelection.[9][11] Bragg ran as a supporter of criminal justice reform measures, and his campaign was characterized as one of the "campaigns of progressive prosecutors across the country".[12]
His candidacy received the endorsement of The New York Times.[13] 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.[14] 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]
Tenure
Bragg was sworn into office on January 1, 2022.[15]
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".[16] 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.[17]
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".[18] In his letter of resignation, Pomerantz wrote that the "team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes,[19] including falsifying business records, and that it was "a grave failure of justice"[19] not to pursue criminal charges.[20]
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".[20]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).[21]
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".[22] Bragg confirmed to CNN in January 2023 that the probe was ongoing.[23] On January 30, the office presented evidence to a grand jury regarding Trump's role in the payment.[24] Trump was indicted on March 30[25] and arraigned on April 4; it was the first indictment of a former president in United States history.[26][27] Trump pleaded not guilty.[28] Trump was found guilty of all counts on May 30, 2024, making Bragg the first prosecutor in U.S. history to win a conviction against a former president.[29]
Jose Alba prosecution
On July 7, 2022, Jose Alba, a 61-year-old bodega clerk, was attacked by customer Austin Simon in a dispute over a bag of potato chips. Alba attempted to de-escalate, but after being cornered behind the counter and being shoved into a wall, defended himself with a knife, killing the assailant.[30] Police who investigated the incident described Alba's actions as self defense.[31]
Bragg, in his prosecutorial discretion, charged Alba with murder and requested bail at $500,000. The judge initially set bail at $250,000, before lowering it to $50,000.[32] 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.[30] After backlash, including from MayorEric Adams who said Alba was acting in self defense, Bragg ultimately dropped the charges against Alba, noting that "a homicide case against Alba could not be proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt".[33]
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.[34] 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"; Bannon pleaded not guilty.[35][36][37]
Personal life
Bragg married Jamila Marie Ponton in 2003.[38] They have two children.[5] Bragg at one time taught Sunday School at the Abyssinian Baptist Church.[39]
