Preet Bharara’s name has stood out in the New York City legal arena throughout the years as a sign of power and determination. Bharara has created a remarkable career as a United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, boldly investigating high-profile cases and vigorously upholding the rule of law. Do New Yorkers know about Preet Bharara and his accomplishments as a prominent New York lawyer? Find out more at newyorkski.info.
What was Bharara like in his youth?
Few people know, but Bharara was born in 1968 in Firozpur, India. His parents migrated to the United States only in 1970, and Bharara became a citizen of another country at the age of 12. His entire childhood was spent in Eatontown, in suburban Monmouth County. He finished high school with honors there. He stood out among other children from a young age of his curiosity and wit, thus his strong knowledge of different disciplines and good academic achievements were not surprising.
After graduating from high school and having knowledge in numerous subjects, Bharara chose to focus on law and attend Harvard College. In particular, he graduated with honors in 1990. After graduating from high school, he obtained his degree from Columbia Law School. Then he started slowly but steadily climbing the career ladder. He developed his legal experience in such firms and institutions as:
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a litigation associate
- Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, where he worked on white-collar defense
- assistant United States Attorney in Manhattan, where he brought criminal cases against the leaders of the Gambino crime family, Colombo crime family and Asian gangs in New York City
- chief counsel to Senator Chuck Schumer
- played a significant role in the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary investigation into the firings of United States attorneys.
Career advancement
Preet Bharara rose to prominence as a lawyer in 2009, when he was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. There is no denying that Bharara’s career has been outstanding up to this point. In an effort to bring about justice, he was involved in some extremely difficult and significant criminal trials in New York society. However, it was his appointment as a prosecutor that provided him with numerous advantages, since it placed him at the heart of a powerful jurisdiction that spanned Manhattan, the Bronx and many other counties. Bharara had great expectations for himself and wanted to show New York and the United States that he was more than up to the challenge of managing any duty, even criminal prosecution.
Prosecution for crimes on Wall Street
A defining point in Bharara’s career was his relentless determination to uncover the securities fraud that has been carried out on Wall Street for many years. During and after the 2008 financial crisis, he conducted multiple investigations into large banks and financial organizations that were involved in fraud. His office obtained multiple convictions under his leadership, sending a message to other fraudsters that no one, regardless of influence or standing, is beyond the law. This was one of Bharara’s first major achievements, which not just New York but the entire country learned about.
Exposing corruption in society
Corruption is a disease that may enslave any society or institution, bringing irreversible effects. Bharara’s tenure as a prosecutor was also distinguished by his commitment to fighting corruption in society. He relentlessly investigated a number of cases involving powerful politicians, exposing bribery, kickbacks and abuse of power. Notably, he successfully handled the trials of former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. These cases vividly demonstrated how effective Bharara has been in battling political corruption.
Fight against terrorism and cybercrime
Bharara was involved in investigations in a variety of fields, including terrorism, which frequently threatened New York. Over the years, Bharara has clearly demonstrated his dedication to resolving these issues. His office investigated several high-profile terrorist cases, including a conspiracy to blow up the New York City subway system. In addition, he led initiatives to combat cybercrime in order to protect the financial and personal information of New Yorkers.
Furthermore, Bharara successfully prosecuted:
- insider-trading cases
- Citibank
- Bank of America
- money laundering fraud in Russia
- Holocaust survivor fund fraud
- many others.
Defending civil rights and social justice
Preet Bharara, like any other prosecutor, was concerned not just with fraud and criminal cases, but also with civil rights and social justice. He has stood up continuously for victims of hate crimes, raising their voices and protecting their rights. His agency has also been instrumental in investigating and prosecuting acts of police misconduct, highlighting the necessity of law enforcement accountability.
Bharara’s term ended suddenly in 2017 when the Trump administration sacked him for refusing to resign. Despite his abrupt exit from office, his legacy remained impeccable, since his numerous accomplishments had already cemented his image as a renowned prosecutor. Being a prosecutor was a big honor for Bharara.
Preet Bharara’s tenure as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has left an unmistakable effect on the legal system of the city. He accomplished something that many others have been unable to do for many years. He has lowered the rate of corruption, fraud and terrorist efforts, among other things. Bharara sought only justice, and he bravely confronted all the problems that existed in New York. Additionally, he strongly fought for social justice and civil rights. Preet Bharara’s name will forever be associated with the legal system in New York.