Alvin Bragg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alvin Bragg
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Bragg in 2023
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| 37th District Attorney of New York County | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Cyrus Vance Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alvin Leonard Bragg Jr.
October 21, 1973 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Jamila Ponton
(m. 2003) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
Alvin Leonard Bragg Jr. (born October 21, 1973) is an American politician and lawyer. He serves as the New York County District Attorney, which means he is the top prosecutor for Manhattan in New York City.
In 2021, he made history by becoming the first African American person elected to this important job. In 2024, he also became the first district attorney to get a conviction against a former United States president. Before this, Bragg worked as a top lawyer for the state of New York and for the U.S. government.
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Early Life and Education
Alvin Bragg grew up in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. He lived in an area called Striver's Row. He has shared that his experiences with the justice system, including being stopped by police, greatly influenced him.
Bragg went to the Trinity School for high school. After that, he studied at Harvard College. He graduated from Harvard in 1995 with a degree in government. He also earned his law degree, called a Juris Doctor, from Harvard Law School. While there, he helped edit the Harvard Civil Rights–Civil Liberties Law Review.
Legal Career
After finishing law school, Bragg worked for a judge for a year. Then, he joined a law firm where he focused on cases about financial fraud and civil rights.
In 2003, he started working for the Attorney General of New York. Later, he became the chief of investigations for the New York City Council. In 2009, Bragg became an assistant U.S. Attorney. This meant he worked as a prosecutor for the federal government.
In 2017, he was appointed as the Chief Deputy Attorney General of New York. In this role, he led divisions that handled criminal justice and social justice cases. He oversaw important lawsuits, including some against the Donald J. Trump Foundation and Harvey Weinstein.
After leaving that position in 2018, Bragg became a professor at the New York Law School. He also helped lead a project focused on racial justice. He is a member of the board for The Legal Aid Society, an organization that helps people who can't afford a lawyer.
New York County District Attorney
Becoming District Attorney
In June 2019, Alvin Bragg announced he would run for New York County District Attorney. The person holding the job at the time, Cyrus Vance Jr., decided not to run again. Bragg campaigned on ideas to reform the justice system. His campaign was part of a trend of "progressive prosecutors" running for office across the country.
The New York Times newspaper supported his campaign. After winning the Democratic primary election in July 2021, Bragg went on to win the general election on November 2, 2021. This made him the first African American to be elected New York County District Attorney.
Time in Office
Bragg officially started his job as District Attorney on January 1, 2022.
Policies and Cases
As District Attorney, Bragg has made decisions about how certain crimes are handled. He has aimed to focus on serious violent crimes.
One of the most notable cases during his time in office involved Donald Trump. In 2023, Trump was charged and later found guilty of certain actions related to business records. This was the first time a former U.S. president had been convicted of crimes.
Another case involved a bodega clerk named Jose Alba. In July 2022, Alba defended himself during an attack. Bragg's office initially charged Alba, but after public discussion and review, the charges were dropped. Bragg stated that the case could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bragg's office also brought charges against Steve Bannon in September 2022. These charges were related to fraud. Bannon pleaded not guilty.
In May 2024, Daniel Penny was charged in connection with the death of Jordan Neely. However, these charges were later dismissed in December 2024.
Personal Life
Alvin Bragg married Jamila Marie Ponton in 2003. They have two children together. At one point, Bragg taught Sunday School at the Abyssinian Baptist Church.
See Also
In Spanish: Alvin Bragg para niños
