Benjamin Brafman
Benjamin Brafman | |
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![]() Brafman in 2017 | |
Born | [1] Brooklyn, New York[1] | July 21, 1948
Alma mater | Brooklyn College (BA) Ohio Northern University (JD) New York University (LLM) |
Occupation | Attorney |
Spouse(s) | Lynda Brafman |
Children | 2 |
Benjamin Brafman (born July 21, 1948)[1] is a prominent American criminal defense attorney and founder of the Manhattan-based firm Brafman & Associates, P.C.[2] Brafman is known for representing many high-profile defendants, including celebrities, accused Mafia members, and political figures.
Early life and education[]
Brafman grew up in Brooklyn and Belle Harbor, Queens, a son of Holocaust survivors. Brafman's family fled from Europe to Cuba on their way to the United States just before World War II.[3] He went to a Yeshiva High School and took night classes at Brooklyn College, majoring in anthropology and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[2][3]
Brafman received his Juris Doctor with distinction from Ohio Northern University College of Law.[4][2] He also earned an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.[5] In May 2014, Brafman was awarded an honorary degree by Ohio Northern University College of Law.[6]
Career[]
After graduating from law school, admitted to the New York State Bar in 1975, Brafman worked for a criminal defense firm for two years, then became an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. In 1980, Brafman started his own law firm in Manhattan.[2]
Brafman has represented a number of notable figures, including Jacob Arabo, James Patino (who was cleared of all charges in the death of Yusef Hawkins),[7] Peter Gatien,[4] Plaxico Burress, Michael Jackson,[8] Carl Kruger,[9] Charles Kushner,[10] Marvell Scott,[11] Sean Combs ("Puff Daddy"),[12] Mafia boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante, Mafia underboss Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, online gambling figure Jay Cohen,[13] Dominique Strauss-Kahn,[3] Rabbi Menachem Youlus,[14] political pundit Dinesh D'Souza,[15] high-profile attorney Sanford Rubenstein,[16] Martin Shkreli,[17][18] and Harvey Weinstein.[19]
Notable cases[]
Brafman slowly established his reputation as a celebrity lawyer through a series of high-profile cases.
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs trial[]
Brafman’s profile rose following the acquittal of client Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, on 1999 illegal weapons and bribery charges. The criminal charges stemmed from a nightclub brawl, while accompanied by then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, and Combs's usual entourage, and was witnessed by over 100 other people. Numerous prosecution witnesses testified to Combs's culpability; a not guilty verdict was decreed on all charges.[1][20][21][22]
Plaxico Burress shooting[]
On November 30, 2008, Brafman was hired to represent NFL star Plaxico Burress who, on August 3, 2009, was indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of reckless endangerment.[23][24] Burress pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and was sentenced to two years in prison.[25]
Dominique Strauss-Kahn[]
In 2011, Brafman represented former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn in a sexual assault case involving a member of the housekeeping staff of an upscale New York City hotel. Brafman and Strauss-Kahn's other lawyer, William W. Taylor, III, of Zuckerman Spaeder LLP,[26] gained first a recommendation that charges be dropped from New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance, and then charges dropped by New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus.[27]
Brafman discussed his defense of Strauss-Kahn on Charlie Rose in February, 2012.[28]
Martin Wolmark[]
In 2014 and 2015, Brafman represented Martin Wolmark of the Epstein-Wolmark gang, an outfit that had plotted the kidnap and torture of Jewish husbands to coerce them into granting their wives gets (religious divorces).[29][30] Wolmark pled guilty to the charges, and was sentenced to three years in prison.[31][32]
Martin Shkreli[]
In early 2016, Martin Shkreli retained Brafman to defend him.[33][34] In a 2017 jury trial, Shkreli was found guilty on two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud.[35] He was sentenced to seven years in prison.[36]
Harvey Weinstein[]
Former film producer Harvey Weinstein hired Brafman in 2017, after numerous sexual abuse allegations against him from prominent members of Hollywood resulted in charges and a criminal trial.[37]
Brafman represented Weinstein at his arraignment on May 25, 2018 in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of first-degree rape and third-degree rape in one case, and first-degree criminal sex act in another case. Brafman said in an interview: "Mr. Weinstein did not invent the casting couch in Hollywood. Bad behavior is not on trial in this case."[38]
In January 2019, Brafman and Weinstein issued a joint statement officially parting ways.[39] Weinstein would subsequently get convicted on several charges, and sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Personal life[]
Brafman is a practicing Orthodox Jew.[40]
His wife, Lynda, is a librarian. The Brafmans lived in a "cramped Forest Hills apartment" early in their marriage and, by 1998, lived in an "enormous Long Island brick mansion."[4] Brafman has lived in the Five Towns area of Long Island since 1981.[2] The couple have two children, Jennifer and David, and a number of grandchildren.[2]
Brafman's older brother, Aaron, was an Orthodox rabbi in Far Rockaway, Queens.[4][41]
Brafman is a self-described "short Jewish guy," standing five feet, six inches tall.[4]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Benjamin Brafman". Cityfile. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Amanda Mayo, Local High-Profile Defense Attorney Ben Brafman: "If you do Great Work, People will Start to Take Notice.", South Shore Standard (June 8, 2012).
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Levinson, Chaim (May 22, 2011). "Strauss-Kahn's lawyer to Haaretz: Former IMF chief will be acquitted". Haaretz.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Gordon, Meryl (January 12, 1998). "Little Big Man". New York Magazine.
- ^ "Benjamin Brafman (LL.M. '79) discusses Dominique Strauss-Kahn and media frenzies at Annual Alumni Luncheon - NYU School of Law". www.law.nyu.edu.
- ^ "Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients". Ohio Northern University. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Eric Pace, Two More Trials Open in Slaying In Bensonhurst (November 20, 1990). The New York Times.
- ^ Hoffman, Jan (February 12, 2004). "PUBLIC LIVES; A Savvy, Scrappy New York Lawyer for Jackson". The New York Times.
- ^ Crooked Carl Kruger wallowed in Albany's corrupt pork-barrel slush-fund ways, editorial, New York Daily News, March 13, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Horowitz, Craig, Jim McGreevey and His Main Man, New York magazine, May 21, 2005. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Melissa Grace, Ex-sportscaster Marvell Scott admits 'inappropriate touching' in rape case involving 14-year-old (August 26, 2011), New York Daily News.
- ^ Ralph Gardner Jr., Puff Daddy's Fate Now Rests With a Spun and Rhymed Jury (March 19, 2001). New York Observer
- ^ SI Scorecard, Sports Illustrated (March 16, 1998),
- ^ Benjamin Weiser, Torah Fraud Earns Rabbi Prison Term, The New York Times (October 11, 2012).
- ^ Benjamin Weiser, D'Souza Case Is Political, Lawyer Says, The New York Times (April 22, 2014).
- ^ Marc Santora & James C. McKinley, Sanford Rubenstein Will Not Face Rape Charges, The New York Times (January 5, 2015).
- ^ Matthew Goldstein & Alexandra Stevenson, Martin Shkreli Appears to Adopt a New Legal Strategy: Silence, The New York Times (February 3, 2016).
- ^ Jason Silverstein, Martin Shkreli hires Benjamin Brafman, high-profile attorney who defended Sean Combs, Michael Jackson and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, New York Daily News (February 2, 2016).
- ^ "Harvey Weinstein to surrender to police - US media". BBC News. 24 May 2018.
- ^ Finkelstein, Katherine E. (March 13, 2001). "Defense Calls Combs Trial 'Stupid' Case". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
- ^ Horowitz, Craig, "The Defense Rests -- Permanently", New York magazine, n.d. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Italiano, Laura, "Legal: Puffy's Pugilist", New York magazine, n.d. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Macur, Juliet (November 30, 2008). "Burress Will Surrender to Authorities on Monday". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
- ^ Honan, Edith (August 3, 2009). "Burress indicted on weapons charges". Reuters.
- ^ Eligon, John (August 20, 2009). "Burress Will Receive 2-Year Prison Sentence". The New York Times.
- ^ May 25,2011 letter from C. Vance to DS-K lawyers, Courthouse News. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ Bray, Chad, Michael Rothfeld and Tamer El-Ghobashy, Judge Dismisses Charges Against Strauss-Kahn, Wall Street Journal, August 23, 2011 3:13 P.M. EDT. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ Interview with Benjamin Brafman Archived April 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, PBS, February 8, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
- ^ Bever, Lindsey (May 23, 2014) "Rabbis Charged with Kidnapping Orthodox Jewish Men and Forcing Them to Grant Divorces", Washington Post
- ^ {May 22, 2014) "Four Orthodox Jewish Rabbis, One Of Their Sons Indicted In Divorce-Compelling Kidnap Conspiracy", United States Department of Justice
- ^ (January 14, 2015) "Orthodox Rabbi Martin Wolmark Pleads Guilty in Get Divorce Extortion Scheme", Forward
- ^ (December 14, 2015) "Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Sentenced To More Than Three Years In Prison For Role In Conspiracy To Violently Extort Divorce Consent From Reluctant Husband",United States Department of Justice
- ^ Goldstein, Matthew; Stevenson, Alexandra (February 3, 2016). "Martin Shkreli Appears to Adopt a New Legal Strategy: Silence". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- ^ Silverstein, Jason (February 2, 2016). "Martin Shkreli hires Benjamin Brafman, high‑profile attorney who defended Sean Combs, Michael Jackson and Dominique Strauss‑Kahn". Daily News. New York. LCCN sn83030450.
- ^ Horowitz, Aaron Smith and Julia. "Martin Shkreli convicted of securities fraud, conspiracy". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
- ^ Hays, Tom. "'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli cries in court, is sentenced to 7 years for securities fraud". ChicagoTribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ McKinley Jr., James C. (November 9, 2017) "For Harvey Weinstein, a New York Lawyer With a List of Celebrity Clients", The New York Times
- ^ Mueller, Benjamin and Alan Feuer "Arrested on Rape Charges, Weinstein Posts $1 Million Bail" The New York Times May 25, 2018
- ^ Maddaus, Gene (January 17, 2019) "Ben Brafman Drops Out of Harvey Weinstein Rape Case", Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ Brafman, Benjamin (November 9, 2007). "A Kristallnacht lesson for our generation". Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09.
- ^ "Rav Aaron Mordechai Brafman zt"l - Matzav.com". matzav.com.
- 1948 births
- American Orthodox Jews
- Brooklyn College alumni
- Criminal defense lawyers
- Jewish American attorneys
- Living people
- New York University School of Law alumni
- New York (state) lawyers
- Claude W. Pettit College of Law alumni
- People from Lawrence, Nassau County, New York