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As the possibility of an indictment looms for Donald Trump, all eyes will be on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who could become the first prosecutor to ever criminally charge a former president.
Here’s what to know about Bragg as the New York case heats up for Trump.
What is Alvin Bragg’s background?
Bragg was born in Manhattan, New York and grew up in Harlem. He attended Trinity School before earning a bachelor’s degree in government at Harvard College and later a law degree at Harvard Law School.
Bragg previously served as both a New York state and federal prosecutor. He made history in November 2021 when he became the first Black person elected as Manhattan District Attorney.
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Why could Trump be indicted?
Trump predicted last Saturday morning that he would be arrested Tuesday over an alleged $130,000 hush-money payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, in the days before the 2016 election to silence her about a prior affair.
An indictment of a former president is unprecedented, even more so with Trump running for the White House. Trump has denied any sort of wrongdoing.
What happened with Bragg and Trump?
This isn’t Bragg’s first time dealing with Trump.
His office made headlines last December when it successfully convicted two of Trump’s companies on all charges over a criminal tax fraud scheme. Those two companies were sentenced in January to pay $1.6 million in fines.
After the convictions, Bragg alluded to Trump’s status as a former president, saying the verdict “underscores that here in Manhattan we have one standard of justice for all.”
Bragg also jointly announced with New York Attorney General Letitia James the indictment of former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon over an alleged fundraising scheme. Bannon plead not guilty and the case is still ongoing.
Related:3 House GOP chairmen call for Manhattan DA Bragg to testify about Trump investigation
Who is the Manhattan district attorney?
Bragg is known for his progressive approach to crime as Manhattan’s top prosecutor, announcing shortly after the election that his office would not prosecute minor offenses such as fare evasion, resisting arrest and prostitution.
“Growing up in Harlem in the 1980s, I saw every side of the criminal justice system from a young age. Before I was 21 years old, I had a gun pointed at me six times: three by police officers and three by people who were not police officers. I had a knife to my neck, a semi-automatic gun to my head, and a homicide victim on my doorstep,” wrote Bragg in a memo to his office, citing his upbringing as informing his decision making in his new job.
“In large part because of these experiences,” he said, “I have dedicated my career to the inextricably linked goals of safety and fairness.”
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