Politics & World • US Politics

Eric Schneiderman

Eric Tradd Schneiderman is an American lawyer and former politician who served as the 65th attorney general of New York from 2011 to 2018.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Eric Tradd Schneiderman is an American lawyer and former politician who served as the 65th attorney general of New York from 2011 to 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the New York State Senate. He resigned in 2018 after allegations of physical abuse, and his law license was later suspended for one year following a disciplinary proceeding in which he admitted abusive conduct.

Early life and education

Schneiderman was born in New York City on December 31, 1954. He attended Amherst College and later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. After completing his education, he worked as a lawyer before entering electoral politics.

New York State Senate career

Schneiderman was elected to the New York State Senate in 1998 and served from 1999 to 2010. His district covered parts of Manhattan and the Bronx. During his tenure, he was a member of the Democratic Party.

Attorney general of New York

Schneiderman was elected New York attorney general in 2010 and took office in January 2011. He was re-elected in 2014. As a member of the Democratic Party, he became a prominent legal figure and pursued cases involving consumer protection, mortgage fraud, environmental issues, and women's rights.

Resignation and disciplinary action

In May 2018, Schneiderman resigned after The New Yorker reported allegations from four women who accused him of physical abuse. In 2021, his law license was suspended for one year after a disciplinary proceeding in which he admitted abusive conduct.

Key facts

Served as the 65th attorney general of New York from 2011 to 2018.
Represented a Manhattan-based district in the New York State Senate for about a decade.
Resigned after allegations of physical abuse were reported in 2018.
His law license was suspended for one year in 2021 after admitting abusive conduct.
Known for litigation on consumer protection, mortgage fraud, environmental issues, and women's rights.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Eric Schneiderman?

Eric Schneiderman is an American lawyer and former Democratic politician who served as attorney general of New York from 2011 to 2018.

What office did Eric Schneiderman hold?

He served as the 65th attorney general of New York.

When did Eric Schneiderman resign?

He resigned in May 2018 after allegations of physical abuse were reported.

What is Eric Schneiderman known for politically?

He is known for his work on consumer protection, mortgage fraud, environmental litigation, and women’s rights while serving as New York attorney general.

What happened to his law license?

In 2021, his law license was suspended for one year after a disciplinary proceeding in which he admitted abusive conduct.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Schneiderman
Supports: Birth date, education, political career, attorney general service, resignation, and 2021 suspension noted in overview.
Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/Eric_Schneiderman
Supports: Election as attorney general in 2010 and resignation effective May 8, 2018.
The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/07/nyregion/who-is-eric-schneiderman.html
Supports: Career background, education, election as attorney general, and resignation after allegations.
New York State Education Department — https://www.nysed.gov/
Supports: Archived New York State Senate materials indicating his Senate service and district representation.
PBS NewsHour — https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/eric-schneiderman
Supports: Context on the 2018 allegations reported publicly and his resignation.