Jay-Z’s lawyer accused of posing as cop and lying about role in DA’s office

Attorney Alex Spiro is accused of impersonating law enforcement in Miami and Manhattan courts.

Jay-Z’s high-profile attorney Alex Spiro is facing explosive allegations that he lied about his law enforcement status and used an old prosecutor’s badge to gain access to restricted areas.

Spiro, who once represented disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, is now in the legal spotlight himself. According to reports, the accusations date back to 2013 and 2014, involving incidents in Miami and Manhattan that allegedly saw him misrepresent his position in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

The New York Post reported that in 2013, Spiro left the Manhattan DA’s Office, where he had been a prosecutor. The following year, while attending a legal conference in Miami, he is alleged to have “flashed his badge” and told others that he was head of the DA’s “homicide bureau.” Sources pointed out that no such bureau exists. One attendee who was aware of this reportedly challenged his claim on the spot.

This Miami incident is just one part of the wider picture. Sources also allege that after leaving the DA’s Office, Spiro repeatedly used his old badge to enter a secure section of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse — the Early Case Assessment Bureau (ECAB). This area is normally restricted to prosecutors and law enforcement officers preparing criminal complaints for newly arrested suspects.

A former prosecutor who worked at ECAB at the time recalled seeing Spiro there “several times” after his departure from the DA’s Office. “I saw him sitting in the seats where police officers sit with prisoners,” they said.

Former Manhattan prosecutors are permitted to keep their badges once they leave the office, but under a strict condition — they cannot display them in public or use them to imply current authority. Several ex-prosecutors confirmed that these restrictions are well-known in the profession.

Spiro’s alleged conduct, as reported, appeared to blur these lines. In Miami, the claim that he led a “homicide bureau” was false. In Manhattan, his entry into ECAB after leaving the DA’s Office raised questions about the purpose and appropriateness of his visits.

At the time of both incidents, Spiro was working alongside prominent defence attorney Ben Brafman, who has represented high-profile clients including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein, a long-time friend and business associate of Jay-Z, was then facing serious sexual assault allegations — with Brafman leading his defence.

The links between Jay-Z, Weinstein, and Spiro form a complex web of personal and professional relationships. Jay-Z — real name Shawn Carter — has had documented business dealings with Weinstein over the years, including entertainment projects. Spiro’s representation of both men at different times has only heightened interest in the current allegations.

Public records indicate that the Manhattan DA’s Office has no “homicide bureau” as described by Spiro in Miami. The claim was reportedly made in a casual conversation at the legal conference, but it became notable because of the badge display and the alleged attempt to bolster credibility through a false title.

There has been no formal charge announced against Spiro in relation to these events, but the detailed accounts from former prosecutors and court insiders have added to the controversy surrounding his career. The allegations have also sparked debate within the legal community about the ethics of former prosecutors retaining badges and the potential for misuse.

As of now, Spiro continues to represent high-profile clients, including Jay-Z. Neither Spiro nor his representatives have publicly responded to the latest round of allegations reported in the New York Post.

The story remains a sharp reminder of the fine line between past authority and present conduct — a line that, according to these claims, Spiro may have crossed more than once.