Alan Mark Grayson, born on March 13, 1958, in the Bronx, New York, is an American politician, lawyer, and businessperson who served as a Democratic U.S. Representative for Florida's 8th and 9th congressional districts. Known for his progressive activism and controversial tenure, Grayson pursued higher education at Harvard College (A.B., 1978) and the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1983). Before politics, he worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York (1984-1985) and founded several business ventures, amassing significant wealth through telecommunications, securities, and real estate holdings. He entered Congress in 2009 representing Florida's 8th district, gaining national attention for fiery rhetoric and a 2009 censure (later withdrawn) for comparing lobbyists to Nazis. Defeated in 2010, he returned in 2013 representing Florida's 9th district until 2017. In Congress, he focused on financial reform, healthcare, and civil liberties. His career has been marked by ethical controversies, including a 2016 divorce where his second wife accused him of abuse (which he denied), an SEC investigation (cleared), and multiple lawsuits. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2016 and for his House seat in 2018. Post-Congress, he founded the Alliance to Counter Crime Against Women and remains active in progressive causes. His personal life includes three marriages and eight children.