In a landmark trial set to begin on Monday, former President Donald Trump will face allegations of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made during the 2016 election. Manhattan's first Black district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who is leading the prosecution, finds himself at the center of a political firestorm as he navigates the challenges of upholding justice in the face of staunch criticism from Trump and his supporters.

Since his election two years ago, Bragg has been a lightning rod for conservative critics who accuse him of being soft on crime. The high-profile trial of a former U.S. president is expected to test Bragg's ability to maintain impartiality amid ongoing attacks from Trump and his allies, who label the prosecution as deeply partisan.

Despite the relentless onslaught of racist emails, death threats, and even packages containing white powder, Bragg remains resolute in his commitment to treating this case like any other financial crime. In announcing the 34-count felony indictment against Trump last year, Bragg emphasized that the allegations in this case revolve around falsehoods and attempts to evade the law, much like many other white-collar cases.

The charges against Trump, which carry jail time if convicted, raise concerns about the impact on his campaign schedule as he prepares for a potential general election rematch with President Joe Biden. Additionally, the trial has thrust Bragg into the spotlight, making him a target of vitriol from Trump's supporters.

In response to Trump's inflammatory statements, Judge Juan M. Merchan imposed a gag order last month, preventing the former president from publicly commenting on witnesses and jurors. However, Bragg and the judge are not included in the order. Trump's legal team has sought to reverse the order as part of their arguments for delaying the trial.

Bragg's upbringing in Harlem, where his father worked at homeless shelters, shaped his early understanding of social issues. With a background as a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, Bragg joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office after working in the New York attorney general's office, where he oversaw investigations into police killings and the lawsuit that shut down Trump's charitable foundation.

During his campaign for the district attorney position, Bragg ran on a platform of justice and public safety, outlining his plans to investigate Trump and his businesses. Upon taking office, he surprised many by temporarily pausing the criminal investigation into Trump. This move led to the resignation of two top prosecutors who had advocated for an indictment.

Bragg's decision to revive the case last April resulted in raised charges of falsifying records, based on the argument that Trump violated federal campaign finance laws and could be prosecuted in state court. Legal experts have voiced concerns about the viability of this strategy, implying that the decision to pursue the case may have been influenced by Trump's status as a high-profile figure.

While Bragg has faced criticism for his directive instructing prosecutors not to seek jail time for certain low-level offenses, he has made efforts to amend and clarify his stance. However, critics on the right continue to portray Bragg as a symbol of Democratic permissiveness, with some claiming that crime rates in Manhattan have spiked under his tenure.

In early 2022, Bragg's office secured a guilty plea from Allen Weisselberg, the long-time Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organization, in a tax evasion case. Later in the year, Bragg's prosecution team successfully obtained a conviction against the Trump Organization on similar charges. These victories laid the groundwork for the subsequent indictment of Trump related to the alleged misrepresentation of payments to his lawyer, Michael Cohen, as legal expenses.

As a historic trial looms and the jury selection process begins, the eyes of the nation are on Bragg, who will be instrumental in determining the outcome of this unprecedented legal battle. The trial will ultimately attest to whether Trump violated the law or if Bragg's actions represent an overstep of his authority.

In a deeply polarized political climate, Alvin Bragg stands as a figure torn between advancing justice and weathering relentless scrutiny from Trump and his supporters. The outcome of this trial will not only shape the future of the former president but also redefine the legacy of Manhattan's first Black district attorney.