Who is Alvin Bragg? The Manhattan DA behind Trump’s indictment

Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg sealed his name in the record books after he obtained a grand jury indictment against Donald Trump and made him the first U.S. president to ever be criminally charged.

Who is Alvin Bragg?

Alvin Bragg is the 37th Manhattan district attorney, assuming the office in January 2022, succeeding Cyrus Vance Jr. He is the first black person to serve in this position. His biography calls him “a son of Harlem.”

Prior to his election as DA, Bragg served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, where he tried a range of cases involving public corruption, financial fraud, and violent crime.

The Harvard-educated lawyer also worked as a civil rights attorney, serving as the chief deputy attorney general for social justice in the New York State Attorney General’s office.

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Aside from his legal work, Bragg has been involved in various community and advocacy organizations focused on transforming the criminal justice system. He is a member of the board of directors of the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals.

Bragg, a democrat, campaigned for Manhattan district attorney focusing on his commitment to criminal justice reform. He promised to prioritize issues such as police accountability, ending mass incarceration, and reducing racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Alvin Bragg has his share of critics

When his term as Manhattan district attorney began, he was criticized for not moving forward with the case that was being developed against Trump involving the former president’s alleged lies to banks and tax officials. Bragg later said he didn’t act on it because the case was not ready.

He has also had some conflict with New York City police commissioner Keechant Sewell regarding Bragg’s approach to crime, but they have since learned to work together.