‘Not a Good Image’: Anderson Cooper Acknowledges Letitia James’ Opposition to Trump

Anderson Cooper Discusses Letitia James’ Targeting of Trump

On Thursday, CNN host Anderson Cooper remarked that New York Attorney General Letitia James had intended to politically target President Donald Trump all along.

This follows a federal grand jury indictment of James for allegations of bank fraud and false statements associated with a mortgage application for a property in Norfolk, Virginia. During “Anderson Cooper 360,” Cooper pointed out that James had made it clear she would “sue” Trump after his election in 2018.

Cooper referred to a PolitiFact report stating that right after her election, James was asked by a community activist if she planned to take legal action against Trump. She replied affirmatively, indicating, “Oh, we’re definitely going to sue him.” This statement raises questions about her approach as a newly elected official, perhaps suggesting she hadn’t thoroughly examined the evidence yet.

Jeff Toobin, who has had his share of controversies, noted that both the attorney general and district attorney are politicians who often make politically charged statements. He implied that James was facing criticism for her comments directed at Trump.

Lindsay Harrigan, the Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, filed two counts against James concerning a $109,600 loan secured on August 17, 2020, for a three-bedroom home in Norfolk. The loan required her to use the property as a secondary residence, explicitly prohibiting its use as a rental investment.

The indictment suggests that James did not occupy the home as required, instead using it as an investment property. In April, the Federal Housing Administration (FHFA) referred her to the Department of Justice (DOJ) over suspicions of mortgage document falsification.

After the referral, Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed a special prosecutor, Ed Martin, to look into the mortgage fraud claims against James.

In September 2022, James sued Trump and the Trump Organization for alleged financial fraud related to loan acquisition. In a ruling from February 16, 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay a substantial fine, but this was later deemed “excessive” and dismissed by the Court of Appeal.