Preet Bharara

Preet Bharara
Name	Preet Bharara
Birth date	1968
Birth place	Firozpur, Punjab, India
Nationality	United States
Occupation	Attorney
Alma mater	Harvard University; Columbia Law School

Preet Bharara

Preet Bharara is an American Attorney and former federal prosecutor known for high-profile prosecutions and leadership of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. He served as U.S. Attorney under President Barack Obama and gained publicity through cases involving financial crimes, public corruption, and securities fraud. After leaving public office he became a commentator, author, and podcaster, engaging with institutions across media and academia.

Early life and education

Born in Firozpur, Punjab, Bharara emigrated to the United States as a child and was raised in New Jersey. He attended Harvard University, where he studied Government and then earned a law degree from Columbia Law School. During his education he clerked and worked with notable figures and institutions, including placements with judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and involvement in projects connected to New York University and Columbia University law programs.

Legal career and U.S. Attorney appointment

Bharara began his legal career as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York under U.S. Attorneys associated with offices such as those led by Rudolph Giuliani and Mary Jo White. He served as Chief of the Narcotics Unit and later as Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Unit, prosecuting cases that intersected with entities from Wall Street and regulatory matters involving the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bharara also worked in private practice at firms linked to Morrison & Foerster and collaborated with enforcement officials from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated him to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the United States Senate confirmed his appointment.

Major prosecutions and investigations

As U.S. Attorney, Bharara oversaw prosecutions that involved prominent individuals and organizations from sectors including finance, politics, and organized crime. His office prosecuted cases related to the collapse of entities tied to Lehman Brothers, pursued insider trading allegations connected to figures associated with Galleon Group, and pursued securities fraud linked to executives from institutions such as Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. Bharara's office also brought cases against public officials accused of corruption in jurisdictions like Albany, New York and together with state authorities targeted corruption associated with members of the New York State Legislature. In matters of organized crime, indictments touched defendants linked to families within the American Mafia and figures associated with narcotics trafficking networks tied to regions including Colombia and Puerto Rico. He led investigations into municipal contracts and bid-rigging schemes involving contractors who worked on projects in municipalities such as New York City and transit authorities affiliated with Metropolitan Transportation Authority. High-profile defendants and targets included hedge fund managers, corporate executives, and elected officials from offices comparable to Mayors and State Senators.

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

During his tenure, Bharara emphasized aggressive white-collar enforcement, pursuing charges under statutes such as those enforced by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and working with agencies like the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. He prioritized cases involving market manipulation, insider trading, and foreign bribery consistent with provisions of laws analogous to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. His office formed task forces with prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York and coordinated with international counterparts including prosecutors from the United Kingdom and agencies in the European Union. Bharara also focused on public corruption prosecutions at the municipal and state level and instated policies aimed at increasing transparency and anti-retaliation within prosecutorial practice. In 2017, he was among several U.S. Attorneys asked to resign during the transition to the Donald Trump administration; his dismissal prompted commentary from figures such as Donald Trump Jr. and coverage in outlets linked to The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Post-government career and public presence

After leaving the U.S. Attorney's Office, Bharara joined the faculty of academic institutions such as Columbia Law School as a guest lecturer and engaged with think tanks and policy forums including panels at Brookings Institution-adjacent events. He authored books on legal ethics and enforcement that drew attention from publishers and reviewers associated with Simon & Schuster and radio and television outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. He hosted a podcast that interviewed legal and political figures comparable to guests from Supreme Court of the United States clerks, former cabinet members, and commentators from outlets such as The New Yorker and The Atlantic. Bharara worked as a visiting scholar at research centers focusing on law and policy, partnered with nonprofit organizations oriented toward civic engagement, and testified before committees of the United States Congress on matters related to law enforcement and anti-corruption measures.

Personal life and recognitions

Bharara is married and resides in New York City. He has been recognized by organizations and publications including awards from bar associations such as the New York State Bar Association and listings in outlets similar to Time (magazine) and Politico for influence in legal circles. He has been honored by civic groups and legal institutions for contributions to public integrity and prosecutorial practice, and he maintains involvement with alumni networks at Harvard University and Columbia Law School.

Category:American attorneys Category:Columbia Law School alumni Category:Harvard University alumni