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Eric T. SchneidermanAmerican lawyer, the 65th and current Attorney General of New York
Date of Birth: 31.12.1954
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Legal Career
- New York State Senate
- Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms
- Attorney General of New York
Early Life and Education
Eric T. Schneiderman was born on December 31, 1954, in New York City. He attended Trinity School, graduating in 1972. He then earned a B.A. from Amherst College in 1977 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1982.
Legal Career
Schneiderman's legal career began with two years as a Deputy Sheriff in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He subsequently clerked for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and became a partner at the law firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart. As a public interest attorney, Schneiderman served as counsel to the Westside Crime Prevention Program for over a decade and was the lead attorney in the Straphangers Campaign lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
New York State Senate
Schneiderman was elected to represent the 31st District in the New York State Senate in 1998. As a Democrat, he focused on crime prevention and criminal justice reforms. He was re-elected to the Senate five times, serving as Chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate the Conduct of former State Senator Hiram Monserrate.
Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms
Schneiderman was a key advocate for reforming the Rockefeller Drug Laws, which were enacted in 2009. These reforms included changes to sentencing, parole, and reentry programs.
Attorney General of New York
In 2010, Schneiderman was elected Attorney General of New York. Within his first week in office, he launched a plan to combat fraud and protect taxpayers. This plan included a "Taxpayer Protection Bureau" to address government contract corruption, pension fund scams, and tax evasion. Schneiderman also established a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
In 2013, Schneiderman filed a $40 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, alleging fraudulent business practices at Trump University. Trump publicly labeled Schneiderman a "political hack" and asserted a 98% approval rating for his university.
Schneiderman also announced an agreement with 19 companies to combat astroturfing, the practice of creating fake grassroots movements to influence public opinion. He remains the 65th and current Attorney General of New York.
