Convicted drug dealer whose sentence was commuted by Trump charged with domestic violence

A New York man whose 10-year prison sentence for dealing thousands of kilograms of marijuana was commuted in early 2021 by then-President Donald Trump has been arrested on domestic violence charges on Long Island.

Jonathan Braun, 41, was charged Tuesday with three counts of assault on allegations he attacked his wife and her 75-year-old father at their home in Atlantic Beach, according to a Nassau County police report. He also was charged with larceny for allegedly evading $160 worth of tolls by driving through E-ZPass lanes in sports cars with no license plates about 40 times, another report said.

Braun pleaded not guilty to the charges in court Wednesday and was released on his own recognizance, despite prosecutors requesting $35,000 bail. Phone numbers for him listed in public records were disconnected.

“I have no definitive comment, other than these are mere allegations and that we will vigorously be defending the charges,” said Braun’s lawyer, Arthur Gershfeld.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement that her office disagreed with the judge’s decision to release Braun on his own recognizance. She didn’t comment directly on the domestic violence allegations but said her office “continues to thoroughly review the evidence in this case and prepare for prosecution.”

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