Preet Bharara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Preet Bharara
Official portrait, 2009
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
In office August 13, 2009 – March 11, 2017
President	Barack Obama Donald Trump
Preceded by	Michael J. Garcia
Succeeded by	Joon Kim (acting)
Personal details
Born	Preetinder Singh Bharara (1968-10-13) October 13, 1968 (age 56) Firozpur, Punjab, India
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Dalya Bharara
Children	3
Education	Harvard University (BA) Columbia University (JD)
Signature

Preetinder Singh Bharara (born October 13, 1968) is an American lawyer. He was a top federal prosecutor, serving as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. In this role, he was responsible for enforcing federal laws in a busy part of New York.

Bharara is known for his work against financial crimes, public corruption, and terrorism. He used new ways to investigate cases, like using wiretaps. He also prosecuted many Wall Street executives for illegal trading. After leaving his government role, he became a partner at a law firm. He also hosts popular podcasts about law and justice.

Early Life and Education

Preet Bharara was born in 1968 in Firozpur, Punjab, India. His parents moved to the United States in 1970. Preet became a U.S. citizen when he was 12 years old. He grew up in Eatontown, New Jersey.

He went to Ranney School and graduated in 1986. He then studied at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990. Later, he earned his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1993.

After law school, Bharara worked at law firms. From 2000 to 2005, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Manhattan. He handled criminal cases against organized crime groups. He also worked for Senator Chuck Schumer, helping investigate the firing of U.S. attorneys.

Leading the Southern District of New York

President Barack Obama chose Preet Bharara to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination. He officially started his job on August 13, 2009. This was a very important position.

Bharara's office became known for its strong efforts to fight crime. He focused on several key areas. These included international crimes, public corruption, and terrorism.

Fighting International Crime

Bharara's office handled cases that crossed international borders. They worked to bring criminals to justice, even if they were in other countries. This included cases against people involved in illegal arms dealing.

One famous case involved Viktor Bout, an arms trafficker. Bharara believed that this strong approach was needed to keep people safe. Some lawyers, however, thought his office was too aggressive.

Combating Public Corruption

Bharara was very serious about stopping public corruption. He often said his office worked hard to find and stop corruption. This included wrongdoing by politicians in New York.

During his time, many current and former officials faced charges. These included state senators and city council members. For example, Senator Carl Kruger was sentenced to prison for corruption. His office also investigated a large fraud case involving New York City's payroll system.

Bharara's office also investigated the end of an anti-corruption group. This group was called the Moreland Commission. He warned about possible obstruction of justice in that case.

One of his most famous cases involved Sheldon Silver. Silver was a powerful leader in the New York State Assembly. Bharara's investigation led to Silver's arrest and conviction. This showed that no one was above the law.

Prosecuting Terrorism Cases

Under Bharara, his office had great success in terrorism trials. He believed that trying terrorists in regular federal courts was the best way. He argued that these trials were fair, open, and fast.

He felt that civilian courts offered more transparency. This allowed the American people to see justice being served. It also helped victims of terrorism find closure.

Many high-profile terrorists were convicted during his term. These included Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, who was Osama bin Laden's son-in-law. Others were involved in embassy bombings and attempted attacks. Faisal Shahzad, who tried to bomb Times Square, was also convicted.

Tackling Cybercrime

Bharara's office also focused on the growing threat of cybercrime. He encouraged businesses to protect themselves from online attacks. He also pushed for strong plans in case of a cyberattack.

His team handled many important computer hacking cases. They worked with a hacker who became an informant. This helped stop many cyberattacks. They also took part in international efforts against hacking.

His office charged people for hacking into major companies. This included stealing personal information from millions of people. They also went after those who ran fake online schools.

Bharara also worked to shut down large online poker companies. He prosecuted those who helped these companies move money illegally. This showed his commitment to enforcing laws in the digital world.

Dismissal from Office

After the 2016 election, Preet Bharara met with then-President-elect Donald Trump. Bharara said that Trump asked him to stay on as U.S. Attorney. Bharara agreed to continue in his role.

However, on March 10, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked all U.S. Attorneys from the Obama administration to resign. Bharara refused to resign. The next day, he was fired from his position.

Bharara stated that serving as U.S. Attorney was a great honor. He believed that justice requires absolute independence. Many people, including senators and politicians, expressed disappointment about his dismissal.

Later Career and Public Life

After leaving his government job, Bharara joined New York University School of Law. He became a distinguished scholar there in April 2017.

In September 2017, he started a weekly podcast called "Stay Tuned with Preet." On this podcast, he interviews important guests. In 2018, he launched another podcast, "Cafe Insider." This podcast provides legal comments on current news.

Portrayal in Fiction

The TV show Billions on Showtime features a fictional U.S. Attorney's Office. This office prosecutes financial crimes. The show is partly inspired by Bharara's investigations into hedge fund managers.

The character Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr., played by Paul Giamatti, is partly based on Preet Bharara.

Personal Life

Preet Bharara is married to Dalya Bharara, who is also a lawyer. They live in Scarsdale, New York, and have three children. Bharara has spoken about his family's diverse religious background.

He became a U.S. citizen in 1980. Bharara is a registered Democrat. However, he is seen as fair and not strongly tied to one political party. His appointment as U.S. Attorney was welcomed by people from different political views.

Preet's younger brother, Vinnie Bharara, is an entrepreneur. Vinnie co-founded a company called Quidsi, which was later sold to Amazon.com.

Bharara has said that reading the play Inherit the Wind in seventh grade inspired him to become a lawyer.

In 2012, Time magazine named him one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World." He has also received honorary degrees from several law schools.

Images for kids

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  Bharara (right) with Attorney General Eric Holder.

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  Bharara with his wife at the 2012 Time 100 gala.

See also

• Indians in the New York City metropolitan region
• Legal affairs of Donald Trump as president