Eric Schneiderman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Schneiderman
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Schneiderman in 2012
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| 65th Attorney General of New York | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – May 8, 2018 |
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| Governor | Andrew Cuomo |
| Preceded by | Andrew Cuomo |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Underwood |
| Member of the New York State Senate | |
| In office January 1, 1999 – December 31, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Franz Leichter |
| Succeeded by | Adriano Espaillat |
| Constituency | 30th district (1999–2002) 31st district (2003–2010) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eric Tradd Schneiderman
December 31, 1954 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jennifer Cunningham (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Amherst College (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Eric Schneiderman (born December 31, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 65th Attorney General of New York from 2011 until his resignation in May 2018. Schneiderman was a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming Attorney General, he spent ten years in the New York State Senate. In May 2018, Schneiderman resigned from his role as Attorney General. This happened after a newspaper reported serious accusations against him. In 2021, his law license was suspended for a year after a review.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eric Schneiderman was born in New York City. His father, Irwin Schneiderman, was also a lawyer. Eric graduated from the Trinity School in 1972. He then attended Amherst College, graduating in 1977. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1982.
After law school, Schneiderman worked as a judicial clerk for two years. He then joined an international law firm, Kirkpatrick and Lockhart LLP. He later became a partner at this firm. Schneiderman married Jennifer Cunningham in 1990. They divorced in 1996 and have one daughter named Catherine.
Serving in the New York State Senate
Schneiderman was elected to represent the 31st district in the New York State Senate. This district covered parts of Manhattan and the Bronx.
Senate Elections
In 1998, Schneiderman won the Democratic primary election. He defeated Daniel O'Donnell with 68% of the votes. In the main election, he won against Vincent McGowen with 82% of the votes. He was re-elected several times. He won in 2000 (84%), 2002 (87%), 2004 (89%), 2006 (92%), and 2008 (90%).
Important Work in the Senate
Schneiderman was a key supporter of changes to the Rockefeller drug laws. These changes were approved in 2009 by Governor David Paterson. The new laws aimed to reduce very long prison sentences. They also provided money for programs that help people instead of sending them to jail. These programs focused on treatment and helping former prisoners return to society. He also worked on laws to prevent fraud and improve ethics in government.
New York Attorney General Role
Attorney General Elections
Schneiderman became the Democratic Party's choice for New York Attorney General in 2010. He won the Democratic primary election on September 14, 2010. He defeated Kathleen Rice and three other candidates. In the general election, Schneiderman won against Republican Dan Donovan. He officially took office on January 1, 2011.
Schneiderman was re-elected as Attorney General in 2014. His main opponent in that election was Republican John P. Cahill.
Key Actions as Attorney General
Schneiderman worked to make sure large banks faced strong penalties for illegal home foreclosure practices. He worked with California Attorney General Kamala Harris. They pushed to prevent banks from being protected from future investigations.
In 2011, Melissa DeRosa worked for Schneiderman. She later became a top aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In August 2013, Schneiderman filed a lawsuit against a business called "Trump University." He claimed it was an "unlicensed university" and a "bait-and-switch scheme." The business denied these claims. In October 2014, a New York judge found that the business did not have the required license.
In September 2013, Schneiderman announced an agreement with 19 companies. This agreement aimed to stop "astroturfing," which means buying fake online reviews. He stated that this practice was like false advertising. The companies paid $350,000 to settle the issue. This settlement also made it easier for private lawsuits to be filed.
In 2015, Schneiderman and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. were sued. This lawsuit challenged New York's 1997 ban on mixed martial arts. The next year, the state legislature made MMA legal in New York.
In November 2015, Schneiderman sent letters to daily fantasy sports companies. He said these companies were running illegal gambling operations in New York. This led to a six-month legal dispute. In March 2016, a settlement was reached. The companies agreed to stop operating in New York for a time. Schneiderman agreed to drop most lawsuits if the state legislature legalized daily fantasy sports.
In 2017, during President Donald Trump's first year, the government tried to change many environmental rules. Schneiderman filed over 50 lawsuits against these environmental actions.
In February 2018, Schneiderman filed a civil rights lawsuit against The Weinstein Company. He claimed the company did not protect its employees from widespread harassment and discrimination. This lawsuit delayed the sale of the company. Schneiderman stated that any sale must ensure victims would receive payment.
Resignation from Office
On May 7, 2018, a newspaper called The New Yorker published a report. The report contained serious accusations against Eric Schneiderman. These accusations were made by several women.
In response to the report, Schneiderman stated that he had engaged in consensual activities in private. He denied assaulting anyone or engaging in non-consensual acts. However, three hours after the article was published, Schneiderman announced his resignation. He said he "strongly contested" the accusations. But he resigned because the reports would "effectively prevent" him from doing his job. His resignation became effective the next day. He did not seek re-election. His deputy, Solicitor General Barbara Underwood, was appointed to take his place as Attorney General.
Images for kids
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Schneiderman in 2012
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Then Attorney General Andrew Cuomo supporting Schneiderman during the 2010 election.
See also
- List of Jewish American jurists
