Jonathan Braun, a convicted New York drug dealer and predatory lender, had his 10-year federal prison sentence commuted by former President Donald Trump in 2021. He was recently arrested on assault charges in Nassau County, Long Island, for allegedly assaulting his father-in-law and wife. Braun pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault and was released without bail. He was also accused of petit larceny for failing to pay bridge tolls while driving luxury cars without license plates.
Braun had been fined $20 million earlier for predatory lending practices. Despite his release, he remains on supervised release for his criminal conviction and could be sent back to prison if he violates the conditions. Trump’s decision to commute his sentence prevented prosecutors from reaching a cooperation deal with Braun in exchange for information on other predatory lenders.
The commutation was said to be influenced by Braun’s family connections to Jared Kushner, who was a senior White House aide at the time. The Trump administration maintained that the decision was in line with their stance on criminals serving time behind bars, contrasting it with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s position on cash bail.
Braun’s recent arrest for assault further complicates the situation, raising questions about his conduct despite being granted clemency. CNBC has reached out to Braun’s lawyer for comment, and the case is ongoing in Nassau County Supreme Court.
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