Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg “has been arrested.”
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Online users are misinformed; Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wasn’t arrested
If Your Time is short
- Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wasn’t arrested.
On March 30, The Associated Press published a video of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg leaving his office following the indictment of former President Donald Trump in connection with hush money paid to an adult film star.
The footage is not riveting. Flanked by what appears to be a security detail, Bragg, whose office is steering the case against Trump, gets into a black SUV. But online, some people are claiming it shows Bragg being taken into custody.
"Bragg has been arrested," reads the caption of an April 6 Facebook post sharing the video.
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
Featured Fact-check
Bragg hasn’t been arrested. On April 4, several days after this video was recorded, he appeared at a news conference and discussed Trump’s indictment.
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Searching PACER, a database of federal court records, we found no criminal cases listing Bragg as a defendant. We also found no news reports about Bragg’s arrest, an event that would draw broad media coverage.
Meanwhile, Bragg has good reason to travel with a security detail (The Brunswick News has a photo of him being escorted by one March 22). Federal law enforcement officers have been "tracking a surge of violent threats" against Bragg, Time reported, including a typewritten death threat enclosed with white powder.
Claims Bragg was arrested are unfounded. We rate this post Pants on Fire!
Our Sources
Facebook post, April 6, 2023
The Associated Press, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg seen leaving NY office after Trump indictment, March 30, 2023
NBC News, Letter sent to Bragg follows a wave of threats and highlights the security nightmare of a Trump indictment, March 24, 2023
Time, How New York Is Preparing for the Security Risks Around Trump's Arraignment, April 3, 2023
The Brunswick News, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is escorted by his security detail while arriving at his office early Wednesday morning, March 22, 2023, in Manhattan, March 23, 2023
The Associated Press, What to know about Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, March 30, 2023
PBS NewsHour, WATCH: Manhattan DA Bragg says Trump’s actions are felony crimes ‘no matter who you are,’ April 4, 2023
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Online users are misinformed; Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wasn’t arrested
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