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00:00The top of the list is is done violence. You have a crisis going on with drones particularly in the upper part of Manhattan. That is really destabilizing communities. And so you know I've been a federal and state prosecutor. I've done gun trafficking work gun possession word. And that's the top priority out of the gate is to really use our resources particularly gun tracing technology to determine sources of gods and hold accountable those where carry and using guns. In addition we've just left. I just left a visual for someone dies and we're talking about the entire AP and deeply divisive our hate crime unit. In addition domestic violence has been on the uptick during the pandemic. And so those are the three top things that we're where we're looking at. Gun violence hate crimes domestic violence and sexual assaults. So let's go back to that for our guns. Obviously here a big issue. Mayor Adams has already said that that's a big issue for him. Does that mean that we should expect your prosecutors to exercise the discretion to be even more aggressive in prosecuting those crimes and also seeking some very stiff penalties for people who commit violence with guns violence and guns. We've you know we've we've seen it. I mean late last year I talked about had a shooting on my block that that is as significant as it gets that we're going to be doing those cases vigorously. We're also going to be building Jason's right not just being reactive is building cases looking where the guns are coming off and getting them off the streets or for their use. So the tracing technology soccer BOVESPA t cha cha gun interdiction strategy. So as you look at the sorts of crimes are you going to prosecute. You talk also about hate crimes. We have a lot of Asian hate crimes actually in Manhattan not just Asian but Asian in particular have been in the news recently. How are you going to pursue those particularly. Well the first thing is you mentioned some of discretion of resources. We've got to build capacity. The hate crimes unit the DA's office has three prosecutors but it's very small very small break leadership. But we need to deepen that capacity. You know people say sure you budget your bottom chart reflect sure. You're here and your principles. So we have to get more resources there. We also have to focus those resources both on actual investigations which we are doing. And also one partner in the communities where I've heard as I've traveled around Manhattan is that you know there's a reluctance to come forward to law enforcement from some communities and the people are more willing to come forward for a community group. So we are focusing on building cases and prosecuting cases and also mindful that we might not be hearing about everything. And we want to be so strongly our community ISE as well. Mr. District Attorney I'm curious about the message that's sent out from your office in that memorandum. You sent a message whether it was received accurately or not. Are you concerned about that by backing off on some crimes. And I read through the memorandum actually includes things like turnstile jumping marijuana offenses things like that. By backing orphans and things like that you might be sending a message of leniency that might encourage some more serious crimes or you're willing to go lost in translation. And I take accountability for that is you know the two things you mentioned have been going on for some time. And so that that's not what I'm writing on a blank slate here. But the idea that the train fare issue and issue would show us some of that's the codified by law. So we want to send a message out that we're going to be enforcing the law. And that is where he focuses I think is appropriate or in that which are the drivers of violence. I do think we need to send the message that we care about everything else to use the full range of government resources. So you know variations. Know it's not like there's no accountability. You're still going to get us you know in some instances would be NYPD been doing what you're trained for years in Manhattan. And so we're going to continue that. We're going to have government accountability which just given where we are on the issues I mentioned you those big crimes domestic violence and others you know we really have to focus our attention there. What about resisting arrest. That got a lot of attention as well. Was that a continuation of current policy or was that a change in policy. Because obviously the police some policemen didn't like that that decision much. Yeah. So I clarified yesterday but these officers never going to be tolerated. You know I'm a career prosecutor. I'm mindful. I sit behind a desk and I go to court and our fellow public servants. Then why did go out with the ones way. So anyone who tries to find a short CAC or an otherwise armored officer. Prosecuted and held accountable. I've done those kind of cases prosecuted people assaulted police officers. We were talking about a narrow very narrow subset of resisting arrest essentially is the only charge someone is you know you're not being arrested. Something else it isn't actually trying to harm an officer. So I thought that was an important clarification I hope. My father is a law enforcement first and I'll keep on record repeating that anyone who harms or seeks to harm a police officer will be held accountable. The way we work it in New York you were independently elected. You are official on your own right. You don't answer to the mayor. As I understand it. And yet the mayor has been pretty outspoken and need to really pursue public safety. How closely are you coordinating with Mayor Adams. Exactly. On the approach on the right balance between on the one hand public safety and also as you say correctly justice. Right. You know that the mayor and I are in very regular touch. You know you talk about the election season. I mean we both talked about very similar trajectories of two young black boys going into bed with experienced police accountability issues in their youth. She handled those experiences into a career in law enforcement. This case as a police officer my case as a prosecutor and now our focus both on on public safety and justice. And so you know I'm looking forward to continuing a partnership with the mayor and obviously the police commissioner an essential relationship for my office to help deliver public safety in partnership with the NYPD and the mayor's office. And finally Mr. District Attorney and one of the things has gotten a lot of attention obviously is the investigation of the former president Donald Trump which is honest. Your office is doing in conjunction with the state attorney general. Letitia James is in office. How much how many resources is your office devoted to that. And I guess I would ask given the problems we have that you describe for example with gun violence with hate crimes. Is it a sensible use of resources right now to spend a lot of time and energy on that. So first is that he did a distinct investigations attorney general's office doing civil. We're doing a parallel criminal investigation. So I just wanted to clarify that. And you know we we have a strong issue in Manhattan. You not just doing street fighting but also sweet crime and doing both white collar and street crime enforcement. So we you know we are you know adjusting our resources within our white collar workforce force. So we're still able to do what we can. And as I said in some areas even our capacity for street crimes given everything that's going on I mean public safety is our priority. But we've got a history of doing white collar crime enforcement. So therefore we've got personnel and a structure around that. So we've got you know this is a case that's consequential and takes resources. But calling from other white collar enforcement and you know looking at our are our priorities. And as you know I'm relatively new to office. And so I'm not in any way prejudging that investigation and obviously mindful of it to pay attention to it. We're going to follow the facts where they go.

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We Have a Gun Crisis in NYC, Says D.A. Bragg

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said addressing gun violence in New York will be his top priority as he kicked off his term as the first Black man to hold his office. He talks about the new priorities under Mayor Eric Adams. Bragg is on "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)

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