Alvin Bragg still refuses to prosecute assailant who punched pro-life woman in face on video

Despite her attorney’s best efforts, Savannah Craven Antao’s assaulter will still not face prosecution from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.

Craven Antao was conducting “man-on-the-street” interviews in April when she was punched in the face by pro-abortion activist Brianna Rivers.

Craven Antao, then a reporter for Live Action, said Rivers had asked to participate in an interview. After just a few questions, it became clear that Rivers was pro-abortion. The conversation escalated when Savannah asked if foster kids should be killed if “they’re not wanted.” Rivers chillingly responded, “Why not?”

“Who’s going to take care of them? I need to know the percentage of people who take children from foster care and abuse them and molest them, who make them personal slaves. I need specifics before you come to talk to me about pro-life,” Rivers said. 

Savannah fired back, “I’m not the one who admitted they would be OK with killing babies in foster care and killing children that have been abused.” 

At that, Rivers suddenly lunged, throwing several punches and leaving Savannah with a massive gouge above her eye. 

Savannah later filed a lawsuit, and Rivers was charged with second-degree assault. However, Bragg’s office dropped the case after missing a critical filing deadline in July 2025.  

“Failing to prosecute these clear-cut charges sets a dangerous standard for how our society responds to violence against those engaging in democratic dialogue,” said Christopher Ferrara, senior counsel at Thomas More Society (TMS), which is representing Craven Antao.  

“Every victim deserves their day in court, and our office has reached out to apologize to Ms. Craven Antao for the unacceptable error of missing the discovery deadline,” a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said. 

“[Bragg’s office], they favor criminals over victims,” Antao told “Fox & Friends”.  

But a week later, on Oct. 7, TMS presented evidence to Bragg’s office to demonstrate prosecution was still possible.  

“Following the initial botched prosecution, Thomas More Society attorneys argued that the DA could still bring charges if the case was refiled with an upgraded felony charge, given that was the original charge upon Rivers’ arrest and is subject to an extended discovery deadline,” TMS said in a press release. 

Bragg’s office responded the next day: “We have carefully reviewed the research you presented but have concluded that continued prosecution is not possible in these circumstances,” the release also said, adding, “The DA’s letter in response offered no explanation for rejecting the analysis and concluded by repeating their office’s failure: ‘I hope that engaging with our Survivor Services Bureau can help Ms. Craven Antao find some closure in this process, which we recognize the criminal prosecution failed to give her.’” 

The DA’s office doesn’t have the best track record in recent years. The Post reported misdemeanor convictions have gone from 24% in 2022, to 21% in 2023 and 17% in 2024.  

“Just 35% of felony cases – 6,871 out of 19,602 crimes – ended in convictions last year, down from 37% in 2023, 40% in 2022, and 42% in 2021 before Bragg took office,” wrote the Post.