Who is Alvin Bragg, Manhattan DA who secured Trump's hush money conviction
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference following the arraignment of former President Trump in April 2023 in New York City. Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg became the first prosecutor to ever convict a former U.S. president after a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty in his hush money case.
Why it matters: Bragg, 50, now faces a rising tide of attacks from elected Republicans and threats of prosecution and imprisonment from Trump's MAGA allies for his role in the case.
The latest: Ex-Trump White House adviser Steven Bannon told Axios in early June that Bragg "should be — and will be — jailed" if Trump wins in November.
- House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has called for Bragg to testify this month before a Republican-led panel on the unprecedented "political prosecution of President Trump."
Catch up quick: Trump faced charges for falsifying business records to cover up a payment worth $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
- The historic trial took place while Trump was campaigning for the 2024 presidential election.
- A jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts in a verdict that raises unprecedented legal and political questions related to the election, such as whether Trump will be able to vote in November.
- Trump is expected to appeal the verdict, but that process is unlikely to wrap up before the November election.
- Trump has railed against the verdict and maintained that he is innocent.
- This was the first of the four criminal cases brought against him.
Bragg's background
Bragg, a Democrat who grew up in Harlem, became Manhattan's first Black district attorney in 2022.
- Bragg earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
- Before becoming DA, he was a visiting professor and co-director of the Racial Justice Project at New York Law School, where he represented Eric Garner's mother and sister in a lawsuit.
How did Alvin Bragg become district attorney?
Bragg beat out seven other Democrats in his 2021 election campaign to become Manhattan district attorney, in which he focused on public safety and fairness for defendants.
- "Alvin believes in holding powerful people accountable for harming everyday New Yorkers," the DA's website said.
- As DA, he has prioritized reducing recidivism, increasing gun prosecutions and centering the well-being of survivors.
Flashback: Bragg inherited the Trump case from former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance.
- The Manhattan District Attorney's Office subpoenaed the Trump Organization for records related to the alleged hush money in 2019.
- While running for office, Bragg said he would not prejudge the Trump case but cited his experience working on white-collar investigations and his determination to hold powerful people accountable, AP reported.
- In 2023, a grand jury in New York indicted Trump over the investigation.
Bragg's other major cases
Bragg secured a six-count indictment against former White House strategist Steve Bannon and WeBuildTheWall Inc. on charges including money laundering, conspiracy and scheming to defraud.
- He also was involved in the conviction of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg in connection to a tax evasion scheme.
Bragg faces blowback for hush money case
Even before the trial concluded, Bragg was attacked by Republicans claiming the prosecution was politically partisan.
- He received death threats and "violent and racist vitriol" from Trump allies following the former president's controversial indictment.
- Erin E. Murphy, a New York University law professor and friend of Bragg's, told the New York Times the prosecutor isn't political. "He's like, not a hyperpartisan political person in any way, shape or form," Murphy said.
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Editor's note: This story has been updated with news of the trial verdict and additional developments.
