Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara and his wife, Dalya Bharara. (Getty)
U.S. attorney for New York’s Southern District Preet Bharara refused to step down from his position although the Justice Department has asked him to and was fired because of it, Daily Mail reported.
Bharara confirmed the report during the afternoon March 11, saying that he was fired moments prior. He described how thankful he was to be appointed by former President Barack Obama and serve in the role for so long in a statement.
Statement from Preet
Bharara is one of 46 U.S. attorneys across the country that were asked by to step down by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Justice Department.
It’s a change from a few months ago, when Bharara met with then President-elect Donald Trump and agreed to remain as a federal prosecuter per his request.
Preet and his wife Dalya reside in suburban New York. Dalya has her own unique background and also spent time practicing law in the northeast area.
Here’s what you need to know about Dalya and Preet:
1. Similar to Preet, Dalya Is Also a Lawyer
Preet Bharara, left, and Dalya Bharara, right, attend 2016 Time 100 Gala. (Getty)
Preet attended Harvard College, graduating in 1990 before attending and receiving his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1993. He told The New Yorker that Dalya “never wants (him) to say this, but (he) was not a good attender of classes.”
Preet gave a speech at Harvard Law School’s commencement ceremony in 2014 and emphasized in his remarks that the new graduates should “try to be good.”
The New Yorker profile on Preet said that Dalya is a nonpracticing lawyer and the two live in Westchester, a suburb about 34 miles away from New York City. He told the publication that the one class he had “perfect attendance” when he went to law school in was trial practice.
Preet and Dalya have three children together, and the couple have very high aspirations for them. In 2011, Preet told Fortune that he wants his kids to grow up and be educated the way he was.
2. Preet’s Firing Has Left Many Furious & Speculating
Trump fires Wall Street enforcer Preet Bharara after he refuses to resign t.co/oYGbaKVSTC
The abrupt removal of 46 attorneys around the nation by the Trump administration has caused a stir in the political world.
While the process of ordering political appointees from the previous administration is typical, the abruptness of it has taken many by surprise.
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman released a statement shortly after Bharara’s firing. He said that Trump’s order of removing the attorneys around the nation has “caused chaos in the federal government.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee weighed in on the ordeal, calling Bharara an ally of New York Sen. Chuck Schumer. He then slammed liberals who don’t agree with the firing of the Obama appointees.
Breathless reporters “shocked” @POTUS fired Schumer ally as NY US Atty. Really? Arrogant Bharara won’t resign as asked; gets fired-move on!
Liberals end CA drought by crying river of tears cause mean ol’ @realDonaldTrump fired Obama political appointees! Kleenex stocks up 400%!
Schumer said in a statement March 10 that he was “troubled” after the Trump administration changed course on keeping Bharara around in the role. He said he didn’t think it was appropriate to have the attorneys resign “before their replacements have been confirmed or even nominated.”
Statement from Chuck Schumer on Preet Bharara t.co/HIDUuECwSh
3. Bharara Is Portrayed on a Showtime Series
Preet Bharara and Dalya Bharara attend the Showtime series premiere of “Billions” at The New York Museum Of Modern Art. (Getty)
Preet was the model for prosecutor on the Showtime series Billions.
The 2016 show draws many similarities to his office. For instance, he prosecuted the real-life case of SAC Capital Advisors founder Steven A. Cohen. In 2013, Cohen pleaded guilty to committing insider trading at the hedge fund. In 2013, he was found guilty and a record amount of $1.8 billion was paid out as a result of the case. The show delves into the details of a similar case and the drama surrounding it.
He told Newsday that being played by Paul Giamatti as prosecutor on the show is “pretty cool.”
It’s a highly fictionalized account. Some of those things don’t actually happen.
Preet and Dalya have been seen at various events in the entertainment industry because of the show, including the premiere of Billions and a Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
4. Dalya’s Father Is a Muslim & Jewish Mother
Dalya’s father is a Muslim and his mother is a Jewish, Miami Diario reported.
Preet described in an interview his family’s heritage. He joked that with the diversity in religions and different traditions that come with them, he is never hungry.
Four different families of four different voices – half a century ago, all had to flee because of their religion. When my wife fasts for Yom Kippur or my father-in-law fasts in Ramadan, I am stuffed all day with samosa (a kind of pie).
The New York Times reported in 2009 that Dalya’s father moved from India to Pakistan and lost his home after the 1947 violent migration. Her mother was born in Palestine after her father — Dalya’s grandfather — escaped Nazi Germany.
5. Preet & His Family Reportedly Had a Net Worth of $1.69 Million In 2009
US Attorney Preet Bharara tweets that he has been fired t.co/NPq3mOG3SF
A report from BuzzFeed showed a financial disclosure from 2010 that showed Preet holds stock shares valued between $1 million and $5 million, though his total profit is unknown.
In 2009, Bharara valued his net worth at $1.65 with his shares worth $206,000. It’s been reported that Preet’s little brother made $550 million when he sold the web domain Diaper.com to Amazon in the 1990s. Preet reportedly was an investor in the company.
At a New York Times Dealbook conference in 2013, he admitted to investors that he may be wealthy, but “not as independently wealthy as the people in (the) room.”