Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg made history by becoming the first prosecutor to secure a criminal conviction of a former U.S. president, Donald Trump. This achievement came after Bragg paused an investigation into Trump when he first took office in 2022, causing two top prosecutors to quit. Despite facing backlash and accusations of having a political vendetta against Trump, Bragg maintained that he simply did his job by following the facts and the law without fear or favor.
A Harlem native, Bragg faced adversity growing up, including incidents of being held at gunpoint, including by police officers. He pursued a career in law and eventually worked as a prosecutor, where he had initial legal battles with Trump while at the New York attorney general’s office. Bragg was involved in lawsuits against Trump’s private charitable foundation, resulting in a settlement and fine for the former president.
During his campaign for Manhattan district attorney in 2021, Bragg emphasized justice and public safety, highlighting his experience as a prosecutor and his commitment to holding powerful figures accountable. Despite facing challenges and criticism over his approach to the job, such as not seeking jail time for some low-level offenses and declining to seek pretrial detention for certain cases, Bragg ultimately won the general election and took office in 2022.
One of Bragg’s most controversial decisions early in his tenure was to pause the investigation into Trump’s financial statements. This move sparked outrage and led to the resignation of the lead prosecutor on the case. However, Bragg’s office continued the investigation, eventually securing guilty pleas and convictions against key figures associated with Trump, including Allen Weisselberg and the Trump Organization.
Following multiple legal victories against Trump and his associates, Bragg convened a grand jury that indicted Trump on charges of falsifying records to conceal a hush money scheme during his 2016 presidential campaign. Despite facing intense scrutiny and attacks from Trump and his supporters, Bragg remained focused on upholding the law and seeking justice. Ultimately, a jury convicted Trump on the charges brought forth by Bragg’s office.
In the face of relentless criticism and personal attacks from Trump, Bragg remained steadfast in his commitment to fulfilling his duties as a prosecutor. He maintained that the only voice that truly mattered in the legal process was that of the jury, which had spoken through its verdict. Bragg’s resilience and dedication to pursuing justice, even in the face of political pressures and personal attacks, solidified his place in history as the prosecutor who successfully convicted a former U.S. president.
