Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Benjamin Brafman
American criminal defense attorney (born 1948) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
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.
Remove ads
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]
Remove ads
Career
Summarize
Perspective
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]
Notable cases
Brafman slowly established his reputation as a celebrity lawyer through a series of high-profile cases. Notable clients have included:
- Jacob Arabo, jeweler
- Philip Banks III, New York City Deputy Mayor[7]
- Jay S. Cohen, online gambling figure [8][3]
- Dinesh D'Souza, political pundit[9]
- Peter Gatien, nightclub owner[4]
- Vincent "Chin" Gigante, American Mafia boss[10]
- Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, American Mafia underboss[3]
- Michael Jackson, musician[11]
- Carl Kruger, New York politician[12]
- Charles Kushner, real estate developer[13]
- James Patino, who was cleared of all charges in the death of Yusef Hawkins[14]
- Sanford Rubenstein, high-profile attorney[15]
- Marvell Scott, sportscaster[16]
- Jacob Walden, owner and executive of assisted-living facilities[17]
- Menachem Youlus, rabbi[18]
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs
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][19][20][21][22]
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.[23] The lawsuit would end the day after it was filed when both parties agreed to an undisclosed settlement.[24]
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.[25][26] Burress pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and was sentenced to two years in prison.[27]
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
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,[28] 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.[29] Brafman discussed his defense of Strauss-Kahn on Charlie Rose in February, 2012.[30]
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).[31][32] Wolmark pled guilty to the charges, and was sentenced to three years in prison.[33][34]
Martin Shkreli
In early 2016, Martin Shkreli retained Brafman to defend him.[35][36] In a 2017 jury trial, Shkreli was found guilty on two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud.[37] He was sentenced to seven years in prison.[38]
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.[39] 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."[40] In January 2019, Brafman and Weinstein issued a joint statement officially parting ways.[41] Weinstein would subsequently get convicted on several charges, and sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Remove ads
Personal life
Brafman is a practicing Orthodox Jew.[42]
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][43]
Brafman is a self-described "short Jewish guy," standing five feet, six inches tall.[4]
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads