Albert J. Pirro Jr is a political donor, an American attorney, and a real estate lawyer, primarily known as the ex-husband of Judge Jeanine Pirro, the Fox News host and former Westchester County District Attorney.
Here is everything you need to know about Albert J. Pirro.
Albert and Jeanine Pirro’s marriage
Albert and Jeanine Pirro met while attending Albany Law School in the 1970s.
He was four years her senior and quickly became known to Jeanine as a bright and dynamic individual.
The couple married in 1975 and had two children, Christi and Alexander Pirro.
For nearly 35 years, it was seen as a powerful political and legal partnership.
Albert worked as a New York real estate attorney and was deeply involved in Republican fundraising, complementing Jeanine’s rising career in the New York legal system and later, national television fame.
Speaking to the New York Times about their marriage on April 17, 1997, Jeanine stated that, “You can’t find a more supportive man or a more loving husband; I’m very lucky. He understands the demands on my time. He helps out with the kids.”
” I understand the demands on his time. We have been married 20 years. Ultimately, that’s a feat in itself,” she added.
Albert and Jeanine Pirro’s children’s careers
Christi has followed in her mother’s footsteps regarding law and works as an attorney specialising in bankruptcy and restructuring.
On the other hand, Alexander transitioned to a career in business, graduating from NYU Stern School of Business and working at Macquarie Group in New York after initially pursuing a legal career.
Despite their high-profile parents, both children have maintained a relatively private life.
Albert J Pirro’s early life and career
Albert J. Pirro grew up in New York. He studied psychology at St Bonaventure University in 1969. He holds a law degree from Albany Law School, which he earned in 1974.
Similarly, he has a master’s degree in criminal justice from SUNY Albany, earned in 1971.
He built a reputation as a land-use and real estate attorney in the larger New York area, specifically in Westchester County, while navigating high-stakes developments, zoning, and local politics.
He became closely aligned with prominent business figures and Republican donors, including Donald J. Trump, during the 1990s.
They worked together on real estate campaigns and projects, with his political ties enhancing his standing in local power circles.
Albert J. Pirro’s legal battles
In 2000, Albert Pirro’s career took a dramatic turn; he was convicted on 34 counts, including charges of conspiracy and tax evasion.
This is after the government found that he had improperly claimed approximately $1.2 million in personal expenses as business deductions to lower his tax burden.
He was sentenced to 29 months in federal prison, of which he served 11 months in a Florida camp before his release following good behaviour and reductions.
The case affected their marriage. Though Jeanine remained legally unharmed, she endured severe professional consequences and media scrutiny.
Jeanine Pirro publicly supported Albert during this challenging period, although the scandal eventually contributed to the strain that led to their divorce in 2013.
Albert and Jeanine’s divorce
The couple announced their separation in 2007 after 32 years of marriage.
In a joint statement, the couple stated that, “We have agreed to amicably separate. As always, our priority remains our two wonderful children. We ask that people respect our privacy.”
They officially divorced in 2013.
Alber J, Pirro’s case pardon and return to practice
On January 20, 2021, then-President Donald Trump, in his last acts of his first term, issued a full pardon to Albert Pirro.
Pirro resumed his law practice in New York after his license was reinstated in January 2007, following a 2003 suspension.
“This has been a humbling experience. And I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to practise law again in New York State,” Pirro stated in an interview with The New York Times on January 25, 2007.
He is now a partner and practising attorney at Abrams Fensterman, LLP, in New York.
According to the law firm’s website, Pirro is a result-driven, commercial, transactional land-use and zoning attorney with 45 years in private practice representing businesses and real property organisations.
“Mr. Pirro has represented clients throughout the Hudson Valley, where his considerable land use experience has resulted in large-scale projects such as The Westchester in White Plains, NY; the Centre at Purchase in Purchase, NY; the Summit in Mount Pleasant, NY; and a myriad of residential and speciality land use approvals.”