Preet Bharara

Preet Bharara
Official portrait, 2009
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
In office August 13, 2009 – March 11, 2017
President	Barack Obama<br>Donald Trump
Preceded by	Michael J. Garcia
Succeeded by	Joon Kim (acting)
Personal details
Born	Preetinder Singh Bharara (1968-10-13) October 13, 1968 Firozpur, Punjab, India
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Dalya Bharara
Children	3
Education	Harvard University (BA)<br>Columbia University (JD)
Signature

Preetinder Singh Bharara (/priːt bəˈrɑːrə/; born October 13, 1968) is an Indian-born American attorney and former federal prosecutor who served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. As of 2025, he is a partner at the WilmerHale law firm.

A graduate of Harvard College and Columbia Law School, Bharara worked as an attorney in private practice during his early career. From 2000 to 2005, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney. Bharara then worked as chief counsel to Senator Chuck Schumer from 2005 to 2009; during this time, Bharara was heavily involved in Schumer's investigation of the 2006 presidential dismissal of U.S. attorneys.

In 2009, Bharara was appointed by President Barack Obama to the position of U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. His office prosecuted the Italian mafia, convicting four out of the Five Families. Bharara similarly headed various counter-terrorism probes and cases, particularly against Al-Qaeda. His office used a variety of unconventional tactics such as wiretapping and asset seizure; he prosecuted nearly 100 Wall Street executives for insider trading and securities fraud using these legal methods. Bharara closed settlements with the four largest banks in the country and shut down multiple hedge funds. Known for his technocratic approach to prosecution, he convicted a number of Democratic and Republican politicians on public corruption charges. Bharara occasionally pursued criminals extraterritorially. Following a 2013 Russian money laundering investigation, Russian officials permanently banned him from entering Russia. The prosecution of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade by his office in 2013 led to a strain in India–United States relations. On March 11, 2017, during the administration of President Donald Trump, Bharara was dismissed after refusing to submit his resignation.

Early life, education, and early career

Bharara was born in 1968 in Firozpur, Punjab, India to a Sikh father and a Hindu mother.<ref name=nytimes_20090810>Weiser, Benjamin (August 9, 2009). "For Manhattan's Next U.S. Attorney, Politics and Prosecution Don't Mix". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2011.</ref><ref>"Fired US Attorney Preet Bharara: Everything you need to know". The Indian Express. March 13, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2021.</ref> He and his parents immigrated to the United States in 1970. Bharara became a U.S. citizen at age 12. He grew up in Eatontown in suburban Monmouth County, New Jersey<ref>Lattman, Peter. "The Fabulous Bharara Boys", The New York Times, June 9, 2011. Accessed August 9, 2012. "He told the audience that he and his brother who grew up in Eatontown, N.J., carved similar paths. Preet, 46, graduated from Harvard College, and Vinnie, 39, from the University of Pennsylvania."</ref> and attended Ranney School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, where he graduated as valedictorian in 1986.<ref name=reuters_20091020>"Preet Bharara, the new top federal prosecutor zeroes in on white-collar crime". India Times/Reuters. October 20, 2009. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2011.</ref><ref name=wnyc_20110127>Chang, Ailsa (January 27, 2011). "Meet Preet Bharara: New York's Highest-Profile Prosecutor". WNYC News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2011.</ref>

Bharara received a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1990. He then received a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School in 1993, where he was a member of the Columbia Law Review.<ref name=nytimes_20090810/>

In 1993, Bharara joined the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a litigation associate. In 1996, Bharara joined the firm of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, where he did white-collar defense work.<ref>Lizz Riggs, Preet Bharara and Mindy Kaling are Harvard Law School's 2014 Class Day Speakers, Harvard Law Today (March 5, 2014).</ref> He was an assistant United States Attorney in Manhattan for five years, from 2000 to 2005, bringing criminal cases against the bosses of the Gambino crime family, Colombo crime family, and Asian gangs in New York City.<ref name=daily_telegraph_20070603/><ref name=wsj_20090211>Jones, Ashby (February 11, 2009). "The Likely Next U.S. Attorney for NY's Southern District: Preet Bharara". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2011.</ref><ref name=time_20091113>Calabresi, Massimo (November 13, 2009). "Prosecuting Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: Much Harder Than You Think". Time. Archived from the original on November 15, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2011.</ref> From 2005 to 2009, Bharara served as chief counsel to Senator Chuck Schumer<ref>"Preet Bharara: The man who strikes fear into Wall Street". The Globe and Mail. February 15, 2013 – via www.theglobeandmail.com.</ref> and played a leading role in the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary investigation into the firings of United States attorneys.<ref name=daily_telegraph_20070603>Shipman, Tim (June 3, 2007). "Mafia prosecutor now has Bush in his sights". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved April 21, 2011.</ref>

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Bharara was nominated to become U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York by President Barack Obama on May 15, 2009, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. His nomination to the post was welcomed across the political spectrum, as he was regarded as an "apolitical and fair-minded" figure.<ref name="Parloff">Roger Parloff, Nominee for Manhattan U.S. Attorney: A nonpartisan star, Fortune (August 25, 2009).</ref> Bharara was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on August 13, 2009.<ref>"Indian-American Preet Bharara appears on Time cover". NDTV.com. February 3, 2012.</ref><ref>"A Special Conversation With Preet Bharara". WAMC. Retrieved February 9, 2026.</ref>

During his time as U.S. Attorney, Bharara was named India Abroad's 2011 Person of the Year.<ref>"Preet Bharara, the Man Who Makes Wall Street Tremble, Is India Abroad Person of the Year 2011". Rediff. June 30, 2012.</ref> In 2012, he was named as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time.<ref>The 2012 Time 100, Time, "Preet Bharara". By Viet Dinh. Retrieved April 23, 2012.</ref> Bharara was also included in Bloomberg Markets Magazine's 2012 "50 Most Influential" list as well as Vanity Fair's 2012 and 2013 annual "New Establishment" lists.<ref>"Bloomberg Markets' 50 Most Influential". Bloomberg Markets Magazine. September 5, 2012. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2012.</ref><ref>"The New Establishment 2012". Vanity Fair. October 2012. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012.</ref><ref>"The New Establishment 2013". Vanity Fair. November 2013.</ref>

International investigations

Bharara (right) waits with Attorney General Eric Holder to announce charges related to the 2011 alleged Iran assassination plot

Bharara's office sent out agents to more than 25 countries to investigate suspects of arms and narcotics trafficking and terrorists, and to bring them to Manhattan to face charges. One case involved Viktor Bout. Bout was an arms trafficker, who lived in Moscow and had a deal involving selling arms to Colombian terrorists. Bharara argued that this aggressive approach was necessary in post 9/11 era. Defense lawyers criticized the stings, calling Bharara's office "the Southern District of the World". They also argued that American citizens would not appreciate being treated similarly by other countries.<ref name=International>Weiser, Benjamin (March 27, 2011). "A New York Prosecutor With Worldwide Reach". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2015.</ref>

Actions against financial crime

Insider trading

In 2012, Bharara was featured on a cover of Time magazine entitled "This Man is Busting Wall Street" for his office's prosecutions of insider trading and other financial fraud on Wall Street.<ref>"This Man is Busting Wall Street". Time Magazine. February 13, 2012. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012.</ref> From 2009 to 2012 (and ongoing), Bharara's office oversaw the Galleon Group insider trading investigation against Raj Rajaratnam, Rajat Gupta, Anil Kumar and more than 60 others. Rajaratnam was convicted at trial on 14 counts related to insider trading.<ref>"Hedge Fund Billionaire Raj Rajaratnam Found Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court Of Insider Trading Charges" (Press release). US Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.</ref> Bharara is said to have "reaffirmed his office’s leading role in pursuing corporate crime with this landmark insider trading case, which relied on aggressive prosecutorial methods and unprecedented tactics."<ref>Weiser, Benjamin; Lattman, Peter (May 12, 2011). "U.S. Attorney Sends a Message to Wall Street". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2011.</ref>

In 2011 when hedge fund portfolio manager Chip Skowron pleaded guilty to insider trading, Bharara said: "Chip Skowron is the latest example of a portfolio manager willing to pay for proprietary, non-public information that gave him an illegal trading edge over the average investor. The integrity of our market is damaged by people who engage in insider trading...."<ref name="auto"/> Skowron was sent to prison for five years.<ref name="auto">Spain, William (August 15, 2011). "Skowron pleads guilty in insider trading scam". MarketWatch.</ref><ref name="auto1">"Harvard doctor turned hedge fund felon lured by ambition, riches". nj.com. November 27, 2012.</ref> Bharara has often spoken publicly about his work<ref>Beeson, Ed (August 19, 2012). "When U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara speaks, Wall Street and the world listens". New Jersey Star-Ledger.</ref> and written an op-ed about the culture surrounding corporate crime and its effect on market confidence and business risk.<ref>Bharara, Preet (July 23, 2012). "Why Corporate Fraud Is So Rampant: Wall Street's Cop". CNBC.</ref>

After 85 straight convictions for insider-trading cases, he finally lost one on July 17, 2014. This was when a jury acquitted Rajaratnam's younger brother, Rengan, of such charges.<ref name="nytimes.com">"The Limits of the Law in Insider Trading". The New York Times (July 18, 2014). Retrieved March 18, 2015.</ref>

On October 22, 2015, Bharara dropped seven insider-trading cases two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to a review a lower court decision that would make it harder to pursue wrongful-trading cases. The conviction of Michael S. Steinberg was dropped; Steinberg was the highest-ranking officer of SAC Capital Advisors who had previously been convicted of insider trading.<ref>Goldstein, Matthew (October 22, 2015). "U.S. Prosecutor to Drop Insider Trading Cases Against Seven". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2017.</ref>

In 2013, Bharara announced criminal and civil charges against one of the largest and most successful hedge-fund firms in the United States, SAC Capital Advisors LP, and its founder Steven A. Cohen.<ref name="WSJ SAC Capital">Strasburg, Jenny; Sterngold, James (July 25, 2013). "U.S. Attorney Alleges 'Rampant Insider Trading' at SAC". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 8, 2015.</ref><ref>"SAC Capital pleads guilty". Reuters. November 8, 2013.</ref> At USD$1.8 billion, it was the largest settlement ever for insider trading, and the firm also agreed to close down.<ref name="ABC SAC funds">Jarvis, Rebecca; Katersky, Aaron; Kim, Susanna (July 2013). "Indicted Hedge Fund SAC Capital 'Magnet for Market Cheaters'". abc News. Retrieved October 8, 2015.</ref><ref>"Meet Preet Bharara Who Just Won the Biggest Insider Trading Case Ever". The Washington Post. November 4, 2013.</ref>

Citibank

Citibank was charged numerous times by Bharara's office and other federal prosecutors. In 2012, the bank reached a settlement with Bharara's office to pay $158 million for misleading the government into insuring risky loans.<ref name="Suit against Citibank">"Citigroup to Pay $158 Million in Mortgage Fraud Settlement". The New York Times. The Associated Press. February 15, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2015.</ref> Bharara also made a criminal inquiry into Citibank's Mexican banking unit<ref>Protess, Ben; Corkery, Michael (April 2, 2014). "Criminal Inquiry Said to Be Opened on Citigroup". Retrieved October 8, 2015.</ref> In 2014, Citi settled with federal prosecutors for $7 billion for ignoring warnings on risky loans.<ref>"Citibank reaches $7 billion mortgage probe settlement". Jurist.org. July 15, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2015.</ref>

JPMorgan Chase

Almost as soon as he took office, Bharara began investigating the role of Bernie Madoff's primary banker, JPMorgan Chase.<ref>Scott Cohn (January 7, 2014). "JPMorgan settles Madoff case for $2.6B, or 2 weeks revenue". NBC News.com. Retrieved January 19, 2014.</ref> Eventually, Bharara and JPMorgan reached a deferred prosecution agreement that called for JPMorgan to forfeit $1.7 billion—the largest forfeiture ever demanded from a bank in American history—to settle charges that it and its predecessors violated the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to alert state and federal authorities about Madoff's actions.<ref name="Vardi">Vardi, Nathan (January 7, 2014). "J P Morgan Chase pays $1.7 billion and settles Madoff related criminal case". Forbes.</ref><ref>JP Morgan to pay $1.7bn to victims of the Madoff fraud BBC January 7, 2014</ref>

Bharara's office also handled the criminal prosecutions of several employees at Madoff’s firm and their associates. They were convicted by a jury on March 24, 2014.<ref>Abrams, Rachel; Henriques, Diana (March 24, 2014). "Jury Says 5 Madoff Employees Knowingly Aided Swindle of Clients' Billions". Retrieved March 12, 2017.</ref>

Bank of America

In 2012, federal prosecutors under Bharara sued Bank of America for $1 billion, accusing the bank of carrying out a mortgage scheme that defrauded the government during the depths of the financial crisis in 2008.<ref name="Protess">Protess, Ben (October 24, 2012). "Federal Prosecutors Sue Bank of America Over Mortgage Program". The New York Times.</ref> In 2013, the jury found Bank of America liable for selling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac thousands of defective loans in the first mortgage-fraud case brought by the U.S. government to go to trial.<ref>"Statement Of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara On The Countrywide, Bank Of America, And Rebecca Mairone Verdict". Department of Justice. October 23, 2013.</ref> The civil verdict also found the bank’s Countrywide Financial unit and former Countrywide executive Rebecca Mairone liable.<ref>"B of A's Countrywide Found Liable for Defrauding Fannie Mae". The Washington Post. October 24, 2013. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2019.</ref> However, in 2016 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the finding of fact by the jury that low-quality mortgages were supplied by Countrywide to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac supported only "intentional breach of contract," not fraud. The action, for civil fraud, relied on provisions of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act. This decision turned on lack of intent to defraud at the time the contract to supply mortgages was made.<ref name="WSJ52316">Aruna Viswanatha and Christina Rexrode (May 23, 2016). "Bank of America Penalty Thrown Out in Crisis-Era 'Hustle' Case Appeals court says government didn't prove case, bank doesn't have to pay $1.27 billion". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 24, 2016.</ref>

Russian money laundering fraud

In 2013, Bharara began investigating a money laundering fraud scheme in New York City operated by a Russian criminal organization.<ref>"'Sheriff of Wall Street' pursues case linked to death of Russian lawyer". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved March 22, 2017.</ref> The alleged fraud links a $230 million Russian tax refund fraud scheme from 2008 to eleven U.S. real estate corporations.<ref>"Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Real Estate Corporations Allegedly Involved In Laundering Proceeds Of Russian Tax Refund Fraud Scheme". www.justice.gov. May 13, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2017.</ref> The underlying tax refund fraud was first discovered by whistleblower and Russian lawyer. His name was Sergei Magnitsky, who was arrested under tax evasion charges, and within a year he was found dead in his prison cell—a suspicious circumstance.<ref>"Russia convicts lawyer Magnitsky in posthumous trial". Reuters. July 11, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.</ref>

In April 2013, Bharara authorized the FBI to raid the apartment of businessman Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov in Trump Tower.<ref name="snyder91">Snyder, Timothy (2018). The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America. London, U.K.: The Bodley Head. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-1-847-92526-8. Just a few weeks earlier, in April 2013, the FBI had arrested twenty-nine men suspected of running two gambling rings inside Trump Tower. According to investigators, the operation was overseen by Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, a Russian citizen who also ran a money-laundering operation from a condo directly under Trump's own. As the FBI searched for him, Tokhtakhounov attended the Miss Universe pageant and sat a few seats away from Trump. (The United States attorney who had authorized the Trump Tower raid was Preet Bharara. Upon becoming president, Trump fired Bharara.)</ref>

On April 13, 2013, Bharara was on a list released by the Russian Federation containing Americans banned from entering the country over their alleged human rights violations. The list was a direct response to the so-called Magnitsky list made public by the United States, which included 18 Russians who were subject to asset freezes and visa bans.<ref>"U.S. Officials On Russian Entry-Ban List". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. April 15, 2013 – via www.rferl.org.</ref><ref>"Russia retaliates against U.S., bans American officials". Washington Post. Retrieved March 22, 2017.</ref>

On September 10, 2013, with help from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Cyrus Vance Jr., the District Attorney for New York County, Bharara's office announced that they had filed a civil forfeiture complaint, freezing $24 million in assets.<ref>"New York freezes $24m of Magnitsky fraud assets". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved March 22, 2017.</ref>

Holocaust survivor fund fraud

During his first year in office, Bharara charged 17 managers and employees of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims for defrauding Germany $42.5 million by creating thousands of false benefit applications for people who did not suffer in the Holocaust. This fraud, which had been occurring for 16 years, was related to the $400 million that Germany paid out each year to Holocaust survivors.<ref name="NYDaily News - Holocaust survivor fund fraud">Gearty, Robert (November 9, 2010). "Holocaust survivor scam nets $42.5 million, 17 charged in swindle: prosecutors". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 25, 2016.</ref><ref name= "CNN Bharara charges holocaust surviver fund">Foley, Vivienne (November 12, 2010). "NY holocaust fund bilked of $42.5 million, prosecutor says". CNN.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.</ref>

Art fraud

During his time in office, Bharara oversaw multiple notable art-fraud cases including the $80-million Knoedler Gallery case, which was the largest art-fraud scheme in American history involving forged masterworks. of artists Mark Rothko, Robert Motherwell and others.<ref name="FBOI-Rosales-pleads-guilty">"Art Dealer Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to $80 Million Fake Art Scam, Money Laundering, and Tax Charges". Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Government. Retrieved February 8, 2016.</ref> Bharara brought charges in the $2.5-million case of John Re, a man from East Hampton, New York, who sold forged artwork by Jackson Pollock and others<ref name=NewYorkTimes-Re1>Emma G. Fitzsimmons, "Seller of Art Fakes Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud," The New York Times, Dec. 1, 2014</ref> and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.<ref name=EastHamptonStar-Re1>T.E. McMorrow, "Sentenced in Fake-Pollock Scam; John D. Re gets five years from federal judge for bilking unwary buyers," East Hampton Star, May 14, 2015</ref> Also Bharara charged Eric Spoutz, an American art dealer. Spoutz was charged with selling hundreds of fake paintings falsely attributed to American masters. Spoutz was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit the $1.45 million he made from the scheme and to pay $154,100 in restitution.<ref name=FBI1>"Forging Papers to Sell Fake Art," Federal Bureau of Investigation (press release), April 6, 2017</ref>

Toyota deferred prosecution

In March 2014, the U.S. Attorney's Office charged Toyota by information with one count of wire fraud for lying to consumers about two safety-related issues in the company’s cars, each of which caused unintended acceleration. Under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) that Toyota entered into the same day the information was filed, Toyota agreed to pay a $1.2-billion financial penalty, the largest criminal penalty ever imposed on an auto manufacturer. The company also admitted the truth of a detailed statement of facts accompanying the DPA, and agreed to submit to a three-year monitorship.<ref>Vlasic, Bill; Apuzzo, Matt (March 19, 2014). "Toyota Is Fined $1.2 Billion for Concealing Safety Defects". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 22, 2017.</ref>

Public corruption

During his tenure, Bharara "successfully prosecuted a dozen current or former state legislators, as well as 15 local officials, party leaders, political consultants and fund-raisers, including two current or former New York City Council members. Only one was acquitted".<ref>Weiser, Benjamin; Protess, Ben; Goldstein, Matthew; Rashbaum, William K. (March 13, 2017). "Preet Bharara Shunned Politics. His End Was Tinged by Them" – via NYTimes.com.</ref> Bharara charged Republican Senator Vincent Leibell,<ref>Spector, Joseph (January 23, 2015). "Bharara rips Albany's "cauldron of corruption"". The Journal News.</ref> Democratic Senator Hiram Monserrate,<ref>Dienst, Jonathan; McQuillan, Alice; Minton, Tim (October 18, 2010). "Monserrate Turns Himself in to Face Corruption Charges". NBC News.</ref> Democratic New York City Councilman Larry Seabrook,<ref>"NYC Councilman Charged with Corruption". WQXR. February 10, 2010.</ref> and Democratic Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi.<ref>Glenza, Jessica (March 29, 2012). "Jury Finds Yonkers Officials Guilty in Corruption Trial". The Rivertowns Daily Voice.</ref><ref>"Sandy Annabi holds 'head up high' as she enters prison". Newsday Westchester. March 4, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref> Bharara’s office uncovered an alleged corruption ring involving New York State Senator Carl Kruger, a Democrat. In April 2012, Kruger was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.<ref>"Former New York State Senator Carl Kruger Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 7 Years in Prison for Bribery Schemes" (Press release). U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. April 26, 2012. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2012.</ref> In February 2011, Bharara announced the indictment of five consultants working on New York City’s electronic payroll and timekeeping project, CityTime, for misappropriating more than $80 million from the project.<ref>"Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Four New Defendants in an Unprecedented Scheme to Defraud New York City in Connection with Citytime Project" (PDF) (Press release). U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. June 20, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 26, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2012.</ref>

On April 2, 2013, Bharara unsealed federal corruption charges against Democratic New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, Republican New York City Councilman Dan Halloran, and several other Republican party officials. The federal complaint alleged that Smith attempted to secure a spot on the Republican ballot in the 2013 New York City mayoral election through bribery and fraud.<ref><!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> (April 2, 2013). "Manhattan U.S. Attorney And FBI Assistant Director-In-Charge Announce Federal Corruption Charges Against New York State Senator Malcolm Smith And New York City Council Member Daniel Halloran" (Press release). United States Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Retrieved April 2, 2013.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)</ref>

New York Moreland Commission

In 2014, Bharara's office began an inquiry into Gov. Andrew Cuomo's decision to end the work of the Moreland Commission, an anticorruption panel. After a New York Times report documenting Cuomo's staff's involvement with the commission and subsequent statements by commissioners defending the Governor, Bharara warned of obstruction of justice and witness tampering.<ref name="The New York Times">Santora, Marc (August 1, 2014). "Cuomo, Responding to U.S. Attorney, Seeks to Justify Recent Contacts With Corruption Panel". The New York Times.</ref>

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver

Bharara made national headlines after investigating 11-term Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, for taking millions of dollars in payoffs. Silver was arrested in January 2015.<ref>William Rashbaum; Thomas Kaplan (January 22, 2015). "Sheldon Silver, Assembly Speaker, Took Millions in Payoffs, U.S. Says". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2015.</ref> Silver was subsequently convicted on all counts, triggering his automatic expulsion from the Assembly.<ref>Campanile, Carl (January 7, 2015). "Sheldon Silver elected to 11th term as speaker, despite probe". New York Post. Retrieved February 23, 2015.</ref><ref>"Silver to Resign as Speaker on Monday". NY1 News. January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.</ref><ref name=":0">Weiser, Benjamin; Craig, Susanne (November 30, 2015). "Sheldon Silver, Ex-New York Assembly Speaker, Is Found Guilty on All Counts". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2015.</ref> During the Silver prosecution, Judge Valerie Caproni criticized Bharara's public statements, writing that "while castigating politicians in Albany for playing fast and loose with the ethical rules that govern their conduct, Bharara strayed so close to the edge of the rules governing his own conduct."<ref>Stewart, James B. (April 16, 2015). "Some Fear Fallout From Preet Bharara's Tension With Judges". The New York Times.</ref><ref name="Creating">Bennett L. Gershman (March 2, 2015). "Preet Bharara is an entertaining speaker, but he goes too far". Slate. Retrieved December 16, 2015.</ref>

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, were arrested and charged with six counts of corruption on May 4, 2015. The criminal complaint included extortion, fraud, and bribe solicitation charges. Bharara accused Skelos of taking official actions to benefit various businesses in return for payments to his son.<ref name="Craig">Craig, Susanne (May 4, 2015). "New York Senate Leader and Son Are Arrested on Corruption Charges". New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2016.</ref> On May 28, 2015, Skelos and his son were indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of bribery, extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy.<ref name="Rashbaum">Rashbaum, William K. (May 28, 2015). "Grand Jury Indicts Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, and Son in Corruption Case". New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2016.</ref> In July 2015, in an expanded indictment, federal prosecutors added bribery charges.<ref>Orden, Erica (July 21, 2015). "Sen. Dean Skelos, Son Face New Charges in Extortion Case". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 28, 2016.(subscription or log-in required)</ref>

On December 11, 2015, a unanimous jury convicted Dean and Adam Skelos of all eight counts of bribery, extortion, and corruption. The trial verdict automatically terminated Dean Skelos from the state legislature.<ref>Rashbaum, William K.; Craig, Susanne (December 11, 2015). "Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, and His Son Are Convicted of Corruption". New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Ross, Barbara; Bekiempis, Victoria; Gregorian, Dareh (December 11, 2015). "Dean Skelos guilty in corruption case; former state Senate Majority Leader and son now face up to 130 years in prison". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 28, 2016.</ref> On September 26, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated the convictions of the Skeloses and ordered a retrial.<ref name="2015ConvictionOverturned">Benjamin Weisner, Dean Skelos's 2015 Corruption Conviction Is Overturned, New York Times (September 26, 2017).</ref> The retrial of Skelos and his son began on June 19, 2018.<ref>"Corruption retrial begins for Skelos, son". Pressconnects.com. June 19, 2018.</ref> Following a retrial, Skelos and his son were found guilty of eight felonies on July 17, 2018.<ref>Campbell, Jon (July 17, 2018). "Ex-Senate Leader Dean Skelos, son guilty again". wgrz.com.</ref> On October 23, 2018, Skelos was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.<ref name=NYTS>Weiser, Benjamin; Wang, Vivian (October 25, 2018). "Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, Gets 4 Years and 3 Months in Prison". New York Times. p. A24. Retrieved October 25, 2018.</ref>

Gang crimes and organized crime

From 2009 to 2014, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has convicted more than 1,000 of approximately 1,300 people charged in 52 large-scale takedowns of street drug and drug trafficking organizations.<ref name="BeekmanStreetGang">Daniel Beekman (March 24, 2014). "Preet Bharara wages war on street gangs, reducing violence in hotspots for gang activity". New York Daily News.</ref> On lowering violent crime rates, Bharara has said, "You can measure the number of people arrested and the number of shootings, but success is when you lift the sense of intimidation and fear."<ref name="BeekmanStreetGang"/> Bharara also oversaw the largest criminal sweep of gangs in Newburgh, New York, working with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement agencies to bring charges against members of the Newburgh Bloods and Newburgh Latin Kings gangs, among others.<ref>"United States Charges 78 Members and Associates of Newburgh Bloods and Latin Kings with Narcotics-Trafficking Crimes" (Press release). U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. March 13, 2010.</ref> In 2010, Bharara oversaw the prosecution of eight longshoremen on charges of participation in a multimillion-dollar cocaine trafficking enterprise along the Waterfront, operated by a Panamanian drug organization.<ref>John Eligon, 8 Longshoremen Charged With Smuggling Cocaine, The New York Times (October 5, 2010).</ref><ref>Scott Shifrel, Longshoremen busted for helping push a ton of Panamanian cocaine through NY, NJ port, The New York Times (October 5, 2010).</ref>

In January 2011, Bharara's office participated in a multi-state organized crime takedown, charging 26 members of the Gambino crime family with racketeering and murder, as well as narcotics and firearms charges.<ref>"Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges 26 Gambino Crime Family Leaders, Members, and Associates on Racketeering, Murder, Narcotics, Firearms, and Other Charges" (PDF) (Press release). U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 10, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2012.</ref> This action was part of a coordinated effort that also involved arrests in Brooklyn; Newark, New Jersey, and Providence, Rhode Island; according to the FBI, this was the largest single-day operation against the Mafia in U.S. history.<ref>

• 91 Leaders, Members and Associates of La Cosa Nostra Families in Four Districts Charged with Racketeering and Related Crimes, Including Murder and Extortion, United States Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs (January 20, 2011).
• William K. Rashbaum, Nearly 125 Arrested in Sweeping Mob Roundup, The New York Times (January 20, 2011).</ref> In August 2016, Bharara's office charged 46 leaders, members, and associates of La Cosa Nostra&mdash;including four out of the Five Families (Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, and Bonanno)&mdash;in an extensive racketeering conspiracy.<ref>
• 46 Leaders, Members, and Associates of Several Organized Crime Families Of La Cosa Nostra With Wide-Ranging Racketeering Charges (press release), United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (August 4, 2016).
• Eli Rosenberg, 46 Charged in Mafia Racketeering Conspiracy, The New York Times (August 4, 2016).</ref>

At a news conference on September 7, 2016 following the arrests of Shimen Liebowitz and Aharon Goldberg, which were two rabbis implicated in the Kiryas Joel murder conspiracy, Bharara called it a "chilling plot," wherein the plotters "met repeatedly to plan the kidnapping and to pay more than $55,000 to an individual they believed would carry it out."<ref name="Orthodox Jewish">Gajanan, Mahita (September 7, 2016). "Rabbi and Orthodox Jewish Man Plotted to Kidnap and Murder Husband to Get Divorce for his Wife, Officials Say", Time</ref><ref>(September 7, 2016). "Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest of Rabbi and Member of Satmar Community for Conspiring to Kidnap and Murder", United States Department of Justice</ref> The rabbis were convicted and sentenced to prison in 2017.<ref>Eberhart, Christopher J. (December 1, 2017). "Rockland Man Among Three Sentenced for Kidnap and Murder Plot", lohud</ref>

Terrorism prosecutions

Under Bharara, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York "won a string of major terrorism trials."<ref name="WeiserProtess">Weiser, Benjamin; Protess, Ben (August 19, 2014). "In Five Years, a Federal Prosecutor Has Taken On Terrorism, Corruption and Cuomo". The New York Times. p. A17. Retrieved March 30, 2017.</ref> Bharara was an advocate of trying terrorists in civilian federal courts rather than in the military commissions at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He contrasted his office's record of successfully convicting terrorists with the lengthy, secretive, and inefficient Guantanamo practice.<ref name="WeiserProtess"/> In a 2014 interview, Bharara said the historical record would show that "greater transparency and openness and legitimacy" leads to "more serious and appropriate punishment."<ref name="WeiserProtess"/> Citing his success in terrorism trials, Bharara stated: "These trials have been difficult, but they have been fair and open and prompt...in an American civilian courtroom, the American people and all the victims of terrorism can be vindicated without sacrificing our principles."<ref name="MostafaConvicted">Benjamin Wesier, Life Sentence for British Cleric Who Helped Plan 1998 Kidnappings in Yemen, The New York Times (January 9, 2015).</ref>

Some of the high-profile terrorist figures convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment during Bharara's term include Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law;<ref>Benjamin Weiser, Abu Ghaith, a Bin Laden Adviser, Is Sentenced to Life in Prison, The New York Times (September 23, 2014).</ref> They also included Khalid al-Fawwaz and Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, Osama bin Laden aides who plotted the 1998 United States embassy bombings that killed 224 people;<ref>Denis Slattery, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has nailed countless criminals from thieving politicians to terrorists, New York Daily News (March 10, 2017).</ref><ref>Joseph Ax, Saudi man gets life in U.S. prison for ties to Africa embassy bombings, Reuters (May 15, 2015).</ref><ref>David Ariosto, Guantanamo detainee sentenced to life for Africa bombings, CNN (January 25, 2011).</ref> Mostafa Kamel Mostafa, a cleric who masterminded the 1998 kidnappings of 16 American, British and Australian tourists in Yemen;<ref name="MostafaConvicted"/> and Faisal Shahzad, the attempted Times Square bomber.<ref name="SullivanHosenball">Andy Sullivan & Mark Hosenball, Top U.S. prosecutor says he is fired by Trump administration, Reuters (March 11, 2017).</ref> Bharara also won a massive conviction and 25-year sentence for international arms smuggler Viktor Bout.<ref name="SullivanHosenball"/>

Cybercrime

In June 2012, The New York Times published an op-ed written by Bharara about the threat posed to private industry by cybercrime and encouraged corporate leaders to take preventive measures and create contingency plans.<ref>Bharara, Preet (June 4, 2012). "Asleep at the Laptop". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2012.</ref>

Bharara's tenure saw a number of notable prosecutions for computer hacking:

• Bharara's office worked with Hector Xavier Monsegur ("Sabu"), a computer hacker who later became a federal informant. Because Monsegur's cooperation "helped the authorities infiltrate the shadowy world of computer hacking and disrupt at least 300 cyberattacks on targets that included the United States military," Bharara's office recommended a greatly reduced sentence to the judge, and in 2014 Monsegur was freed with only some of the time served.<ref>Benjamin Weiser, Hacker Who Helped Disrupt Cyberattacks Is Allowed to Walk Free, The New York Times (May 27, 2014).</ref>
• In May 2014, Bharara's office was part of an international crackdown, led by the FBI and authorities in 19 countries, on the "Blackshades" creepware hacking, in which hackers illicitly access users' systems remotely to steal information.<ref>Evan Perez, Shimon Prokupecz & Tom Cohen, More than 90 people nabbed in global hacker crackdown, CNN (May 19, 2014).</ref>
• In November 2015, Bharara's office charged three Israeli men in a 23-count indictment that alleged that they ran an extensive computer hacking and fraud scheme that targeted JPMorgan Chase, The Wall Street Journal, and ten other companies. According to prosecutors, the operation generated "hundreds of millions of dollars of illegal profit" and exposed the personal information of more than 100 million people.<ref>Jonathan Stempel & Nate Raymond, U.S. charges three in huge cyberfraud targeting JPMorgan, others, Reuters (November 10, 2015).</ref>
• In May 2016, Bharara's office secured a guilty plea from Alonzo Knowles, a Bahamian man who had hacked into the email accounts of celebrities and athletes in order to steal unreleased movie and television scripts, unreleased music, "nude and intimate images and videos," financial documents, and other personal and sensitive information. Knowles was sentenced to five years in prison.<ref>Benjamin Weiser, Man Who Hacked Celebrities' Email Accounts Gets 5 Years in Prison, The New York Times (December 6, 2016).</ref>
• In November 2016, Bharara's office filed charges against a Phoenix, Arizona man, Jonathan Powell, for hacking into thousands of email accounts at Pace University and another university and mining those accounts for users' confidential information.<ref>Nate Raymond, Arizona man arrested for hacking email accounts at universities, Reuters (November 2, 2016).</ref>
• In December 2016, Bharara's office charged three Chinese citizens with hacking into the system of New York law firms advising on mergers and acquisitions, and making more than $4 million by trading on information they gained.<ref>Leslie Picker, 3 Men Made Millions by Hacking Merger Lawyers, U.S. Says, The New York Times (December 27, 2016).</ref>
• Also in December 2016, Bharara's office charged an executive of the Pakistani-based company Axact with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection. Prosecutors say that the company carried out a $140 million diploma mill that defrauded thousands of consumers across the world.<ref>Rezaul H. Laskar, US attorney Bharara charges Pakistani man in $140-mn fake diploma mill scam, Hindustan Times (December 22, 2016).</ref>

Bharara moved to shut down several of the world's largest Internet poker companies.<ref>Nathan Vardi, U.S. Government Moves To Shut Down World's Biggest Online Poker Companies, Forbes (April 15, 2011).</ref> He prosecuted several payment processors for Internet poker companies. He effectively secured guilty pleas for money laundering.<ref>Payment Processor for Internet Poker Companies Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Bank Fraud, Money Laundering, and Gambling Offenses (press release), U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (February 28, 2012)</ref><ref>Payment Processor for Online Poker Companies Pleads Guilty to Laundering Internet Poker Funds (press release), U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (January 12, 2012)</ref> In April 2011, Bharara charged 11 founding members of internet gambling companies and their associates involved with pay processing with bank fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). The case is United States v. Scheinberg.<ref name=bloomberg_20110415>Hurtado, Patricia; Van Voris, Bob (April 15, 2011). "Eleven Charged in Manhattan for Fraud in Online-Gambling Money Laundering". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 26, 2011.</ref>

Devyani Khobragade incident

Main article: Devyani Khobragade incident

Bharara and his office came to the limelight again in December 2013 with the arrest of Devyani Khobragade, the Deputy Consul General of India in New York, who was accused by prosecutors of submitting false work visa documents for her housekeeper and paying the housekeeper "far less than the minimum legal wage."<ref name="Harris">Gardiner Harris (December 17, 2013). "Outrage in India, and Retaliation, Over a Female Diplomat's Arrest in New York". The New York Times.</ref> The ensuing incident caused protests from the Indian government and a rift in India–United States relations; Indians expressed outrage that Khobragade was strip-searched (a routine practice for all U.S. Marshals Service arrestees) and held in the general inmate population.<ref name="Harris"/> The Indian government retaliated for what it viewed as the mistreatment of its consular official by revoking the ID cards and other privileges of U.S. consular personnel and their families in India and removing security barriers in front of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.<ref name=DB4>"India removes U.S. Embassy security barriers in spat". Reuters. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.</ref>

Khobragade was subject to prosecution at the time of her arrest because she had only consular immunity (this which gives one immunity from prosecution only for acts committed in connection with official duties) and not the more extensive diplomatic immunity.<ref name="Harris"/><ref name="McKelvey">Tara McKelvey, Who, What, Why: Does Devyani Khobragade have diplomatic immunity?, BBC News (December 19, 2013).</ref> After her arrest, the Indian government moved Khobragade to the Indian's mission to the U.N., upgrading her status and conferring diplomatic immunity on her; as a result, the federal indictment against Khobragade was dismissed in March 2014, although the door was left open to refiling of charges.<ref>Jonathan Stempel & Shyamantha Asokan, Update 3 – Indian diplomat in U.S. row wins indictment dismissal, Reuters (March 13, 2014).</ref> A new indictment was filed against Khobragade, but by that point she had left the country.<ref>New indictment filed against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in U.S. visa-fraud case, Washington Post (March 14, 2014).</ref>

Speaking at Harvard Law School during its 2014 Class Day ceremony, Bharara said that it was the U.S. Department of State, rather than his office that initiated and investigated proceedings against Khobragade and who asked his office to prosecute.<ref>"Preet Bharara talks Khobragade case at Harvard Law School". India Today. June 1, 2014.</ref><ref>"Bharara talks Khobragade case". Business Standard & Press Trust of India. June 2, 2014.</ref><ref>"Bharara says upset by criticism". Indian Express. June 1, 2014.</ref>

Reason magazine subpoena

During Bharara's term, the U.S. Attorney's Office investigated six Internet comments made on the website of Reason magazine in which anonymous readers made comments about U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest of the Southern District of New York like "Its [sic] judges like these that should be taken out back and shot" and "Why waste ammunition? Wood chippers get the message across clearly." (The comments were made under an article in the magazine of Forrest's sentencing of Silk Road owner Ross William Ulbricht to life in prison without parole.) In June 2015, a federal grand jury issued a subpoena to the libertarian magazine, demanding that it provide identifying information for the commenters.<ref name="WSJ">"Reason magazine subpoenaed over reader comments on Silk Road judge". The Wall Street Journal. June 9, 2015.</ref><ref name="DB5">"How Government Stifled Reason's Free Speech". Reason. June 19, 2015.</ref> Following the issuance of the subpoena, federal prosecutors applied for an order from a U.S. magistrate judge forbidding the magazine from disclosing the existence of the subpoena to the commenters.<ref name="DB5"/>

The subpoena became public after being obtained by Popehat's Ken White.<ref name="WSJ"/> The nondisclosure order caused controversy, with critics saying that it infringed the constitutional right to free speech<ref name="Clifford">Stephanie Clifford, Prosecutors' Secrecy Orders on Subpoenas Stir Constitutional Questions, The New York Times (January 1, 2016).</ref> and questioning whether the comments were actually serious threats or merely hyperbolic "trolling."<ref>

• "Reason Magazine Subpoena Stomps on Free Speech". Bloomberg View. June 9, 2015.
• Welch, Matt (June 27, 2015). "There's a special place for those who quash hyperbole in online comments". Los Angeles Times.
• "Glenn Reynolds: U.S. attorney chills Reason-able speech". USA Today.
• "Feds Want to ID Web Trolls Who 'Threatened' Silk Road Judge". Wired. June 8, 2015.</ref> Federal prosecutors dropped the matter as moot.<ref name="Clifford"/> Reason magazine editors Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie characterized the subpoena and nondisclosure order as "suppressing the speech of journalistic outlets known to be critical of government overreach."<ref name="DB5"/>

Dismissal

See also: 2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys

Following the 2016 election, Bharara met with then-president-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in November 2016.<ref>Schram, Jamie; Whitehouse, Kaja (November 30, 2016). "Donald Trump to meet with Preet Bharara". New York Post. Retrieved March 13, 2017.</ref> Bharara said that Trump asked him to remain as U.S. Attorney, and he agreed to stay on.<ref>Victoria Bekiempis & Adam Edelman (November 30, 2017). "Preet Bharara will stay on as US Attorney at Trump's request". New York Daily News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)</ref><ref>Matthew Nussbaum, Trump opts to keep Preet Bharara as U.S. attorney for Manhattan, Politico (November 30, 2016).</ref>

On March 10, 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered all 46 remaining United States Attorneys who were holdovers from the Obama administration, including Bharara, to submit letters of resignation.<ref>Kenneth Lovett; Victoria Bekiempis; Nancy Dillon (March 10, 2017). "AG Sessions seeks 46 U.S. attorney resignations including Bharara". New York Daily News.</ref> Bharara declined to resign. He was fired the next day from Trump's administration.<ref name="CNNStandoff">Laura Jarrett; Jake Tapper (March 12, 2017). "US Attorney Bharara fired in standoff with Trump". CNN.</ref><ref name="BuzzFired">Mack, David; Geidner, Chris (March 11, 2017). "Federal Prosecutor Preet Bharara Fired After Refusing To Comply With Trump Admin Order To Resign". BuzzFeed. Retrieved March 11, 2017.</ref> He was succeeded by his deputy attorney, Joon Kim, as acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.<ref name="CNNStandoff"/><ref name="BuzzFired"/>

In a public statement at the time, Bharara said that serving as U.S. Attorney was "the greatest honor of my professional life" and that "one hallmark of justice is absolute independence and that was my touchstone every day that I served". There were expressions of dismay over the firing from Howard Dean, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, as well as from New York State Republican Assemblymen Steve McLaughlin and Brian Kolb, the Assembly Minority Leader.<ref>Democrats, some Republicans, condemn Preet Bharara being 'fired', ABC News, David Caplan & Michael Edison Hayden, Mar 12, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.</ref>

On June 13, 2017, ProPublica reported that in the spring of 2017, Trump's personal attorney Marc Kasowitz told associates that he had been responsible for getting Bharara fired. Kasowitz reportedly had warned Trump, "This guy is going to get you."<ref>Eisinger, Jesse; Elliott, Justin (June 13, 2017). "Trump's Personal Lawyer Boasted That He Got Preet Bharara Fired". ProPublica. Retrieved June 13, 2017.</ref> In September 2017, however, Bharara said a series of conversational telephone calls from Trump made him increasingly uncomfortable about the appearance of potential improper contact between his office and the Trump office.<ref>"That Time President Trump Fired Me". September 19, 2017 – via podcasts.google.com.</ref> Bharara added that he finally refused to take a telephone call from Trump and was dismissed 22 hours later.<ref>Somashekhar, Sandhya; Johnson, Jenna (June 11, 2017). "Bharara says Trump phone calls made him uncomfortable" – via www.washingtonpost.com.</ref>

Later career and other endeavors

On April 1, 2017, Bharara joined New York University School of Law as a distinguished scholar in residence.<ref name="NYU">Abramson, Alana (March 21, 2017). "Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney Ousted by Trump, Already Has a New Job". Fortune. Retrieved April 10, 2017.</ref>

In September 2017, Bharara started a weekly podcast called "Stay Tuned with Preet", which features long-form interviews with prominent guests.<ref>"Stay Tuned with Preet". cafe.com.</ref> In 2018, Bharara started a second podcast with former New Jersey Attorney General and fellow law professor Anne Milgram, "Cafe Insider", which also provides legal commentary on the latest news.<ref>"CAFE Insider, 11/9: Sessions Out. Whitaker In. What's next for Mueller? - CAFE". CAFE. November 8, 2018.</ref> After Milgram was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, she was replaced as co-host with former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Joyce Vance.<ref>Media, Vox (April 19, 2021). "Joyce Vance Named Co-Host for the Cafe Insider Podcast". Vox Media. Retrieved September 29, 2022.</ref>

Bharara was an executive producer on the Zeshan B 2024 album, O Say, Can You See?.<ref>Aswad, Jem (June 10, 2024). "Singer Zeshan B and Preet Bharara: Meet the Odd Couple Behind a New Album That Combines Classic R&B, Social Justice and Urdu Music". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2024.</ref>

As of 2025, Bharara is a partner at the WilmerHale law firm.<ref>O'Brien, Amanda (May 9, 2025). "Wilmer's Preet Bharara Billing $400 Per Hour for NJ AG Investigation". New Jersey Law Journal.</ref>

In popular culture

The Showtime television series Billions gives a fictional portrayal of the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York's prosecution of financial crimes.<ref>Eric Orden, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's Office Gets Hollywood Treatment in Showtime Series, Wall Street Journal (January 5, 2016).</ref> The series is loosely based on the investigation of hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen of S.A.C. Capital Advisors by Bharara's office.<ref name="CalvarioGig">Liz Calvario, 'Billions' Creators React To Trump Firing U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, Offer Him Gig On Showtime Series, Deadline Hollywood (March 11, 2017).</ref><ref>Joi-Marie McKenzie, 'Billions' creators react to the firing of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, ABC News (March 12, 2017).</ref> The show's fictional SDNY U.S. Attorney Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr., played by Paul Giamatti, was partly inspired by Bharara.<ref name="CalvarioGig"/><ref>Cynthia Littleton, Trump's Firing of New York U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Evokes 'Billions', Variety (March 11, 2017).</ref>

Personal life

Bharara with his wife at the 2012 Time 100 gala

Bharara is married to Dalya Bharara, a non-practicing attorney. As of 2016, the Bhararas lived in Scarsdale, New York with their three children.<ref>Jeffrey Toobin, The Showman: How U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara struck fear into Wall Street and Albany, New Yorker (May 9, 2016).</ref> In interviews, Bharara "has reflected on his family's diverse religious heritage: Sikh (his father), Hindu (his mother), Muslim (his wife's father) and Jewish (his wife's grandmother)."<ref name="Altman2009">Alex Altman, Randy James & M.J. Stephey, 9/11 Prosecutor Preet Bharara, Time (November 13, 2009).</ref>

Bharara is a registered Democrat but "not considered a strong partisan."<ref name="Altman2009"/>

Bharara's younger brother Vinit "Vinnie" Bharara, also a graduate of Columbia Law School, is an entrepreneur. Vinnie Bharara and Marc Lore co-founded Quidsi, the parent company of Diapers.com and Soap.com, which they sold in 2010 to Amazon.com for $540 million.<ref>Jason Horowitz, When Preet Bharara speaks, the shady get nervous, Washington Post (April 4, 2013).</ref><ref>Peter Lattiman, The Fabulous Bharara Boys, The New York Times (June 9, 2011).</ref>

Bharara is a fan of Bruce Springsteen.<ref>State, City & (September 21, 2016). "Preet Bharara dishes on Springsteen, Yankees and his legal role models". cityandstateny.com. Retrieved March 13, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)</ref> The admiration seems to be reciprocal as at an October 2012 concert in Hartford, Connecticut Springsteen shouted, "This is for Preet Bharara!" before launching into his song "Death to My Hometown".<ref name="New York Times">Lattman, Peter (November 1, 2012). "The Bruce-Bharara Bromance". The New York Times. Retrieved November 1, 2012.</ref>

Works

• Bharara, Preet (March 19, 2019). Doing Justice: A Prosecutor's Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780525521129. OCLC 1073034857.
• Bharara, Preet (January 25, 2022). Justice Is... A Guide for Young Truth Seekers. New York: Crown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780593176627.

See also

• Indians in the New York City metropolitan region
• Legal affairs of the first Donald Trump presidency

External links

• Preet Bharara on Twitter
• Preet Bharara on Bluesky
• U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Official Website
• NY Attorney Data
• DealBook
• Stay Tuned with Preet from WNYC
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Legal offices
Preceded by Lev Dassin<br>Acting	United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York 2009–2017	Succeeded by Joon Kim<br>Acting