Preet Bharara

Preet Bharara
Born	Preetinder Singh Bharara 13 10, 1968
Birthplace	Firozpur, Punjab, India
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, legal commentator, author
Known for	U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2009–2017)
Education	Harvard University (BA) Columbia University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Dalya Bharara
Children	3
Awards	Time 100 Most Influential People

Preetinder Singh Bharara (born October 13, 1968), known as Preet Bharara, is an Indian-born American attorney, former federal prosecutor, legal commentator, and author who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Bharara became one of the most prominent federal prosecutors in the United States, overseeing a broad portfolio of cases that ranged from Wall Street insider trading and securities fraud to organized crime, terrorism, and public corruption. His office prosecuted nearly 100 Wall Street executives, secured convictions against members of four of the Italian Mafia's Five Families, and brought charges against elected officials of both major political parties on corruption charges. Before his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Bharara served as chief counsel to Senator Chuck Schumer and played a central role in the congressional investigation of the 2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys. He was dismissed from his position on March 11, 2017, during the administration of President Donald Trump, after refusing to submit his resignation. Since leaving government, Bharara has worked as a legal analyst, podcast host, and author. As of 2025, he is a partner at the law firm WilmerHale.

Early Life

Preetinder Singh Bharara was born on October 13, 1968, in Firozpur, a city in the Punjab state of India. His family immigrated to the United States when he was a young child, and he grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey. Bharara was raised in a Sikh family of Indian heritage. His upbringing in the United States shaped his identity as an immigrant who would later rise to one of the most powerful law enforcement positions in the country.

Bharara has spoken publicly about the experience of growing up as an Indian American and about his attachment to the United States as his adopted country. In a 2025 interview with The San Francisco Standard, he expressed his love for America and reflected on the immigrant experience that informed his career in public service. His personal background as a naturalized citizen who rose through the ranks of the American legal system became a recurring theme in media profiles throughout his career.

Education

Bharara attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Columbia Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor (JD) degree. His Ivy League education provided the foundation for a legal career that would span private practice, government service, and ultimately one of the most consequential federal prosecutor positions in the country. In May 2024, Bharara was selected as the commencement speaker for the Drexel University Kline School of Law graduation ceremony, reflecting the esteem in which he is held within the legal education community.

Career

Early Legal Career and Private Practice

After completing his legal education at Columbia Law School, Bharara entered private practice as an attorney. He worked in the private sector before transitioning to federal prosecution, a move that would define the trajectory of his career.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (2000–2005)

From 2000 to 2005, Bharara served as an assistant U.S. attorney, gaining experience in federal prosecution that would prove instrumental in his later role as the chief federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York. During this period, he developed expertise in criminal law and federal prosecution procedures that formed the basis of his later approach to high-profile cases.

Chief Counsel to Senator Schumer (2005–2009)

In 2005, Bharara joined the staff of Senator Chuck Schumer of New York as chief counsel. In this role, Bharara was heavily involved in Schumer's investigation of the 2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys by the George W. Bush administration, a political scandal that involved the firing of several U.S. attorneys who were alleged to have been dismissed for political reasons. Bharara's work on this investigation raised his profile in Washington legal and political circles and positioned him as a candidate for a senior prosecutorial role in the incoming Obama administration.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2009–2017)

In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Bharara to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), one of the most prominent and powerful federal prosecutor positions in the United States. He assumed office on August 13, 2009, succeeding Michael J. Garcia. The Southern District of New York, often referred to as the "Sovereign District of New York" due to its historically independent posture, encompasses Manhattan, the Bronx, and several counties north of New York City, and has jurisdiction over Wall Street and the heart of the American financial system.

Wall Street Prosecutions

One of the defining features of Bharara's tenure was his aggressive prosecution of financial crimes on Wall Street. His office prosecuted nearly 100 Wall Street executives for insider trading and securities fraud, employing a range of tactics including wiretapping and asset seizure — methods more commonly associated with organized crime investigations. These prosecutions resulted in the closure of multiple hedge funds and led to settlements with the four largest banks in the country.

Bharara's office reached a significant settlement with Citibank, which agreed to a $7 billion settlement in a mortgage securities inquiry, one of the largest such settlements in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. His office also secured a jury verdict against Bank of America in a related case involving mortgage fraud.

Bharara's technocratic approach to financial prosecution and his willingness to use law enforcement tools traditionally reserved for violent crime cases against white-collar defendants drew both praise from advocates of financial accountability and criticism from those who viewed his methods as overly aggressive.

Organized Crime

Bharara's office pursued major cases against organized crime in New York, particularly targeting the Italian Mafia. Under his leadership, the SDNY secured convictions against members of four of the Five Families — the dominant organized crime families that had long operated in the New York metropolitan area. These prosecutions represented a significant escalation of federal efforts to dismantle organized crime networks in the region.

In addition to Mafia prosecutions, Bharara's office also targeted street gang activity in New York City. His efforts to combat gang violence drew attention for their scope and for the application of federal resources to what had traditionally been treated as a local law enforcement matter.

Counter-Terrorism

Bharara headed various counter-terrorism probes and cases during his tenure, particularly those related to Al-Qaeda. The Southern District of New York had long served as one of the primary venues for terrorism prosecutions in the United States, and Bharara continued this tradition by overseeing cases involving international terrorism, material support for terrorist organizations, and related charges. His office occasionally pursued criminals extraterritorially, extending the reach of federal prosecution beyond American borders.

Public Corruption

A significant component of Bharara's work as U.S. Attorney involved the prosecution of public corruption cases. His office brought charges against elected officials from both the Democratic and Republican parties, a bipartisan approach that became a hallmark of his tenure.

Among the most high-profile corruption cases was the prosecution of Sheldon Silver, the longtime Speaker of the New York State Assembly, who was charged with corruption in January 2015. Silver resigned as Speaker following the charges. Bharara's public comments about the Silver case drew some criticism, with legal commentators raising concerns about whether his statements could prejudice a jury.

Bharara's office also prosecuted local corruption cases, including the conviction of Sandy Annabi, a former Yonkers city council member, on corruption charges.

Holocaust Fund Fraud Case

Bharara's office also handled cases involving large-scale fraud schemes. In one notable case, his office charged 17 individuals in connection with a $42.5 million fraud scheme that targeted Holocaust survivors, swindling money from funds designated for victims of the Holocaust.

International Controversies

Bharara's tenure as U.S. Attorney was marked by several international incidents. Following a 2013 investigation into Russian money laundering, Russian officials permanently banned Bharara from entering Russia, placing him on a sanctions list. The ban was a retaliatory measure related to his office's investigation of Russian financial crimes.

In December 2013, Bharara's office pursued the prosecution of Devyani Khobragade, an Indian diplomat serving as India's Deputy Consul General in New York, on charges related to visa fraud and making false statements regarding the wages paid to her domestic worker. The case created a significant diplomatic incident and strained India–United States relations. Bharara addressed the criticism his office received over the case, expressing that he was "upset by criticism" of the prosecution.

Dismissal

On March 11, 2017, Bharara was dismissed from his position as U.S. Attorney during the early months of the Trump administration. The dismissal came after Bharara refused to submit his resignation, which had been requested of all remaining Obama-appointed U.S. attorneys. Bharara's refusal to resign and his subsequent firing drew significant media attention and public discussion. He was succeeded in an acting capacity by Joon Kim.

Post-Government Career

Following his departure from government, Bharara pursued several professional activities. He became a prominent legal commentator and launched a podcast, Stay Tuned with Preet, which covers legal affairs, politics, and current events. He also authored a book and became a sought-after public speaker on legal and policy issues.

In June 2022, Bharara joined the law firm WilmerHale as a partner, bringing his extensive prosecutorial experience to private practice.

As of 2025, Bharara has also taken on a role in a two-year review of New York State's prison system, described by Newsday as building upon his record of anti-corruption work and his earlier investigations into failures at the Rikers Island jail complex.

Free Speech Controversy

During his time as U.S. Attorney, Bharara's office issued a subpoena to Reason magazine seeking to identify anonymous commenters on its website who had made threatening remarks about a federal judge. The subpoena, which included a gag order preventing the magazine from disclosing its existence, drew criticism from free speech advocates who viewed it as an overreach of prosecutorial power.

Personal Life

Bharara is married to Dalya Bharara. The couple has three children. The family resides in the New York metropolitan area. Bharara has spoken publicly about his identity as an Indian-born American and his connection to the United States. In a 2025 profile in The San Francisco Standard, he was described as someone who "isn't embarrassed to request 'Wagon Wheel' in Nashville or to say he loves America," reflecting his embrace of American culture and patriotism.

Bharara is a member of the Democratic Party.

Recognition

Bharara received significant media recognition during his tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In 2012, he appeared on the cover of Time magazine's European edition, reflecting the international attention his prosecutions had generated.

Also in 2012, Bloomberg Markets included Bharara on its list of the 50 Most Influential people in global finance, a recognition of the impact his Wall Street prosecutions had on the financial industry.

In 2011, Bharara was named India Abroad Person of the Year, an honor recognizing his achievements as one of the most prominent Indian Americans in public life.

In 2024, he was selected as the commencement speaker for the Drexel University Kline School of Law graduation ceremony.

Legacy

Bharara's tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York is considered one of the most consequential in the office's history. His office's prosecution of nearly 100 Wall Street executives in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis represented one of the most extensive crackdowns on financial crime in American history. The use of wiretapping and other law enforcement techniques traditionally associated with organized crime investigations to pursue insider trading cases established new precedents in the prosecution of white-collar crime.

His simultaneous pursuit of organized crime, terrorism, financial fraud, and public corruption demonstrated the breadth of the SDNY's jurisdiction and its capacity to operate across multiple areas of federal law enforcement simultaneously. The convictions of members of four of the Five Families continued the SDNY's long tradition of combating organized crime in New York.

Bharara's bipartisan approach to public corruption — prosecuting elected officials of both major parties — reinforced the independence of the SDNY from political influence, a characteristic that has historically distinguished the office. His prosecution of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other politicians sent a signal about the office's willingness to pursue powerful public officials regardless of party affiliation.

His dismissal by President Trump in 2017, following his refusal to resign, became emblematic of broader debates about the independence of federal prosecutors and the relationship between the executive branch and law enforcement. Bharara's subsequent career as a legal commentator and his involvement in public interest work, including the 2025 review of New York State's prison system, have continued to keep him in the public eye as a figure associated with the rule of law and governmental accountability.