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American criminal defense attorney From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benjamin Brafman (born July 21, 1948)[1] is an American criminal defense attorney and founder of the Manhattan-based law firm Brafman & Associates.[2] Brafman is known for representing many high-profile defendants, including celebrities, accused Mafia members, and political figures.
Benjamin Brafman | |
---|---|
Born | [1] New York City, U.S.[1] | July 21, 1948
Alma mater | Brooklyn College (BA) Ohio Northern University (JD) New York University (LLM) |
Occupation | Attorney |
Spouse | Lynda Brafman |
Children | 2 |
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]
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 slowly established his reputation as a celebrity lawyer through a series of high-profile cases.
Brafman defended Sean "P. Diddy" Combs during his 1999 trial on illegal weapons and bribery charges. Combs, who referred to Brafman as "Uncle Benny"[3] was acquitted of the criminal charges, which stemmed from a nightclub brawl while he was accompanied by then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez and his usual entourage. One hundred prosecution witnesses and others testified to Combs's culpability, but still a not-guilty verdict was decreed on all charges, raising Brafman's profile.[1][7][8][9][10]
In November 2023, Brafman would again represent Combs as he was facing a $30 million sexual assault lawsuit from his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura. He would publicly denounce Ventura's accusations against Combs, including in an exclusive interview with People.[11] The lawsuit would end the day after it was filed when both parties agreed to an undisclosed settlement.[12]
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.[13][14] Burress pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and was sentenced to two years in prison.[15]
In 2011, Brafman represented French politician, economist and 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.[3] Brafman and Strauss-Kahn's other lawyer, William W. Taylor, III, of Zuckerman Spaeder LLP,[16] 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.[17] Brafman discussed his defense of Strauss-Kahn on Charlie Rose in February, 2012.[18]
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).[19][20] Wolmark pled guilty to the charges, and was sentenced to three years in prison.[21][22]
In early 2016, Martin Shkreli retained Brafman to defend him.[23][24] In a 2017 jury trial, Shkreli was found guilty on two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud.[25] He was sentenced to seven years in prison.[26]
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.[27] 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."[28] In January 2019, Brafman and Weinstein issued a joint statement officially parting ways.[29] Weinstein would subsequently get convicted on several charges, and sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Other notable clients included:
Brafman is a practicing Orthodox Jew.[41]
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][42]
Brafman is a self-described "short Jewish guy," standing five feet, six inches tall.[4]
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