Charisma Troiano is the Communications Director at Democracy Forward, responsible for creating and executing Democracy Forward’s media and communications strategy.
Prior to joining Democracy Forward, Charisma served as the press secretary for the late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson in one of the largest prosecutors’ offices in the country. In that role, she worked to draft and implement policies and initiatives related to criminal justice reform; wrongful convictions; combating gun violence; and restoring community relations with law enforcement. Charisma was also responsible for developing communications strategies on a wide range of topics regarding the duties, outreach, and accomplishments of the DA’s office. Her work has included placements in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Talking Points Memo, Mother Jones, CNN, MSNBC, the “13th” documentary, and more.
Charisma also served as the legal editor for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper. In addition to print journalism, Charisma has worked as an on-camera commentator on NBC’s “The Debrief with David Ushery” and as a host and producer of the live cable daily news show “BK Live.”
Born in New York and raised in Georgia, Charisma received her J.D. from New York Law School and bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, where she was a Ford Scholar.
As Press Secretary, Charisma will focus on communications and will not be practicing law.
In the News
What is Jared Kushner ‘Shielding’? Watchdog Granted Court Order for DHS to Disclose Any Role He Played in Renewing EB-5 Visa Program
Newsweek / December 12, 2018
When the Biggest Prison Company Complained About a California Sanctuary Law, ICE Listened
Mother Jones / December 7, 2018
Ivanka Trump Was More Than Complicit in Obama Equal Pay Rollback—She Had a Hand in It, Watchdog Alleges
Newsweek / August 29, 2018
Featured Lawsuits
- Grants
- Health Care
King County, Baltimore & Healthy Teen Network v. Department of Health & Human Services
Successfully forced HHS to reinstate unlawfully terminated evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants on behalf of localities and a non-profit organization
Learn more about this lawsuit
- Health Care
Columbus et al. v. Trump
Fighting Trump’s attempts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act—and thereby make health insurance more inaccessible and expensive—on behalf of five cities.
Learn more about this lawsuit
- National Security
Uncovering whether White House consulted Defense Department on Syrian chemical attack
We filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department to investigate whether Department officials were consulted prior to a White House statement concerning an allegedly imminent Syrian chemical weapons attack.