Goodbye, Preet Bharara — Hello, More Corruption
I voted for President Trump and have agreed with many of the things he has said and done. But I strongly disagree with his decision to fire US Attorney Preet Bharara (“Preet Relief for NY’s Pols,” March 12).
New York has been mired in the scandals of one of the most inept and corrupt mayors in its history, Bill de Blasio, and Bharara was finally doing something about it. He helped rid the state of dirty politics, and New Yorkers were looking forward to the possible removal of de Blasio as mayor.
The people of New York deserve a lot better than this. Alan Brooks Brooklyn
Bharara prosecuted corrupt politicians in New York. And his presence made public officials who normally would have been receptive to bribery and corruption think twice before getting involved in illegal activity.
Bharara was not able to eliminate corruption, but it’s obvious that his presence made New York less corrupt.
Trump’s decision to remove Bharara as prosecutor will result in more public officials taking chances on corrupt activities because they’ll be less likely to be caught. Paul Feiner Greenburgh
Maybe Bharara’s firing is a blessing in disguise — it leaves him free to run for mayor.
It’s too bad he didn’t have the opportunity to finish the investigations he started. We’ve got to get rid of our walking zombie, de Blasio, before he does any more damage to this city. S. Kane Brooklyn
In light of Bharara’s firing, his sweetest revenge and gift for the rest of us would be to challenge de Blasio for the mayor’s seat.
It’s perfect: He’s a known entity, an IndianAmerican who was appointed by former President Barack Obama and has the same background as former Mayor Rudy Giuliani had, without some of the baggage.
He’s got my vote. Gerhardie Williams Manhattan
Any New Yorker who cares about our state needs to publicly voice opposition to Trump and Sessions’ firing of Preet Bharara.
This is not about partisan politics; rather, it is about giving New York its best chance to root out corruption.
Bharara has demonstrated competence and fairness.
Please stand up for New York, my fellow New Yorkers. We need to keep the good ones on our side. Jennifer Ellison Corning
Couldn’t Trump have picked somebody else other than Bharara as another “you’re fired!” victim (“Thank You, Preet,” Editorial, March 13)?
Trump’s fellow New Yorkers were wonderstruck by the corruption scent skills of that bloodhound investigator. Bharara has done a bang-up job putting away a boatload of assorted bad guys and was hot on the trail of Mayor de Blasio and his Campaign for One New York politico-financial scam.
Treating Preet like chopped liver wasn’t the right thing to do. James Hyland Beechhurst
The firing of Bharara makes absolutely no sense, because we have seen him drain the swamp of political corruption.
This ranks as perhaps Trump’s stupidest decision. Ever. Michael Maurer Long Branch, NJ
I never thought Trump could do anything nutsy enough to turn me off — but then he dumped Bharara. Gerry Muir Mamaroneck
I may not be so astute where politics are concerned, but even I found myself with my jaw on the floor after Bharara was fired.
Surely, there can be an exception for a man who has not only worked hard but without bias and who succeeded in ferreting out criminals in the government.
Some decisions can be changed. I’ve seen it happen in more cases than should be.
If there is a petition out there to retain his services, I will be the first to sign. Bunny Abraham Manhattan