US Attorney Preet Bharara’s shocking termination on Saturday immediately launched calls for the crusading prosecutor to seek elected office.
“Sky’s the limit for him. Democrats are desperately searching for a hero right now and he’s smartly stepped into that void,” said Lis Smith, a Democratic consultant. “Hard to see much in the way of downsides in this fight.”
Bharara’s checks off every box as an attractive candidate throughout the region – as a slayer of corrupt pols on both sides of the aisle.
And having your walking papers handed by President Trump also doesn’t hurt in the solidly blue New Jersey and New York state.
“The reason he’s probably seeking to be fired rather than resign, is should he chose to run for office in the northeast being fired by Donald Trump would be considered an asset,” political consultant Susan Del Percio said.
“What he does get to do is run as a true independent. He has gone after both Republicans and Democrats.”
Friends and colleagues of Bharara, a New Jersey native who now lives in Westchester County, said he’s too ambitious to work for a law firm, despite the huge dollars he’d certainly make.
“Run, Preet Run,” tweeted Public Advocate Tish James. “You walked out with your head up high, they are beneath you.”
Bharara’s biggest problem to seeking office is picking the best spot.
New York City residency requirements could be malleable enough for Bharara to run for Gracie Mansion. But even that gig might be small potatoes for someone with Bharara’s current political value, said Democratic consultant Evan Thies.
“There aren’t a lot of openings He could move to New York City and run for mayor, but local office is too small for him. There aren’t any congressional seats opening up,” Thies said.
“A lot of people speculated [Westchester County’s US Rep.] Nita Lowey might retire and that could be an option but that’s not likely to be an option soon.”
Bharara’s family still has a house in Monmouth County, NJ, and he’s a loud and proud Bruce Springsteen fan. But New Jersey residency requirements could stand in the way of a run for office there.
Additional reporting by Kaja Whitehouse and David K. Li