Clayton Sandell
Who is the judge deciding Trump's fate in New York?
Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan is a seasoned judge who is no stranger to Donald Trump's world.
LEARN MOREPosted: 9:11 p.m. EDT Mar 22, 2023
Donald Trump is now the first former president to be indicted, and the first prosecutor to do it is Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Bragg grew up in New York’s Harlem neighborhood and went to Harvard Law School. He later became a state and then federal prosecutor.
He's overseen a wide range of cases, including one involving ancient antiquities stolen from Egypt — part of an investigation into illegal traffickers and looters.
He also prosecuted former Trump ally Steve Bannon for money laundering, conspiracy and fraud. In December, Bragg won a guilty verdict against two Trump companies in a criminal tax fraud scheme. At the time, he told reporters, "they've now been held accountable in a court of law right here in Manhattan."
Elected in 2021, crushing his Republican opponent, Bragg is Manhattan’s first Black DA. The 49-year-old Democrat says having a gun pointed at him six times before he was 21 years old gave him a unique perspective on the criminal justice system.
When he announced he would stop prosecuting nonviolent crimes like resisting arrest and prostitution, critics — including the widow of a murdered NYPD officer — said Bragg was soft on crime.
Dominique Luzuriaga, widow of slain NYPD officer Jason Rivera, said in 2022: "I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. I hope he's watching you speak through me right now."
More recently, Bragg has drawn the ire of Trump, who has called Bragg “a racist” on a political “witch-hunt."
Bragg, in a memo first reported by Politico, told his staff, “We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York,” as he now gears up for what may be the biggest case of his career.
