2021 election In June 2019, Bragg started his candidacy for the 2021 Democratic Party nomination for
New York County District Attorney, then held by
Cyrus Vance Jr., who did not run for reelection. Bragg ran as a supporter of
criminal justice reform measures, and his campaign was characterized as one of the "campaigns of progressive prosecutors across the country". His candidacy received the endorsement of
The New York Times. Following the June 22, 2021 Democratic primary, Bragg led in the reported vote count and
Tali Farhadian Weinstein conceded the primary to Bragg on July 2. On November 2, 2021, Bragg defeated Republican Thomas Kenniff in the general election, becoming the first African-American to be elected New York County District Attorney.
Policies on low-level offenses On January 4, 2022, after three days in office, he announced that his office would no longer prosecute low-level offenses such as
fare evasion, resisting arrest,
prostitution, and
cannabis-related misdemeanors unless accompanied by a
felony charge. He also decided to seek lesser charges for burglaries and store robberies where the offender "displays a dangerous instrument but does not create a genuine risk of physical harm". On January 20, Bragg disputed what he described was a "legalistic" interpretation of his prosecution policy memo and indicated that he supported a
zero tolerance policy for violent crimes.
Donald Trump prosecution On February 23, 2022,
Carey R. Dunne and
Mark F. Pomerantz, the lead prosecutors in the New York County District Attorney's investigation into
Donald Trump and his businesses, resigned abruptly after Bragg "indicated to them that he had doubts about moving forward with a case against Mr. Trump". In his letter of resignation, Pomerantz wrote that the "team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes, including
falsifying business records, and that it was "a grave failure of justice"
The New York Times reported that Bragg "balked at pursuing an indictment against Mr. Trump" and lacked confidence proving in court that Trump "knowingly falsified the value of his assets on annual financial statements". On November 21, 2022,
The New York Times reported that the district attorney's office "has moved to jump-start its criminal investigation" into Trump's reported "hush-money payment to a porn star who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump". Bragg confirmed to
CNN in January 2023 that the probe was ongoing. On January 30, the office presented evidence to a grand jury regarding Trump's role in the payment. Trump was indicted on March 30 and arraigned on April 4; it was the first indictment of a former president in United States history. Trump pleaded not guilty. Trump was found guilty of all counts on May 30, 2024, making Bragg the first prosecutor in U.S. history to secure a conviction against a former president.
Jose Alba prosecution On July 7, 2022, Jose Alba, a 61-year-old
bodega clerk, was attacked by customer Austin Simon in a dispute over a bag of potato chips. Alba attempted to de-escalate, but after being cornered behind the counter and being shoved into a wall, defended himself with a knife, killing the assailant. Police who investigated the incident described Alba's actions as self defense. Bragg, in his
prosecutorial discretion, charged Alba with murder and requested bail at $500,000. The judge initially set bail at $250,000, before lowering it to $50,000. The dead attacker's girlfriend also stabbed Alba with her own knife, after attempting to turn Alba's knife back on him. Bragg declined to charge her.
Steve Bannon prosecution On September 6, 2022,
The Washington Post reported that
Steve Bannon would be indicted on September 8 by Bragg's prosecutors on the same charges of fraud that he was
federally pardoned for by then-President Trump in 2020. On September 8, Bannon was charged with "defrauding Americans who wanted to contribute to construction of a southern border wall, resurrecting a threat that Mr. Bannon seemed to have escaped with a 2021 presidential pardon"; Bannon pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Penny prosecution On May 3, 2024,
Daniel Penny was charged with criminally negligent homicide and
second degree manslaughter over the death of Jordan Neely. Penny was acquitted of negligent homicide in early December 2024, and his charge of second-degree manslaughter was dismissed by the presiding judge.
Security clearance revocation On February 8, 2025,
President Trump announced that he would be revoking Bragg's
security clearance, along with several other officials and attorneys, including
Antony Blinken,
Letitia James,
Mark Zaid,
Hillary Clinton, and former
President Joe Biden. The decision followed Bragg's role in
prosecuting Trump in a criminal case. In response, Bragg did not issue a public statement, but other officials affected by the decision accused the move as being politically motivated. ==Personal life==