ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Legal Defense for Letitia James

On Thursday, attorneys representing New York Attorney General Letitia James will present arguments to dismiss bank fraud charges against her. They assert that this case should be thrown out due to alleged misconduct by Lindsey Harrigan, the prosecutor appointed by President Trump.

James faces federal allegations of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution over a loan of $19,000, which was purportedly taken from her personal savings for a second home.

She has entered a plea of not guilty, and her legal team seeks to challenge the validity of the case in the federal court in Alexandria, citing claims that Harrigan’s appointment as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was unlawful, a move orchestrated by the Trump administration.

Harrigan, who has a background in insurance law and was previously part of Trump’s legal team, became the interim U.S. attorney following her work in the White House.

James’s legal team argues that Pam Bondi, the Attorney General at the time, lacked the authority to appoint Harrigan because the previous appointee had already served the entire 120-day term permitted for temporary appointments.

They also contend that new appointments for prosecutor roles necessitate Congressional approval.

In contrast, government attorneys maintain that Bondi had the right to appoint multiple individuals to fill vacancies, as long as they served within a 120-day period. They assert the validity of the charges against James, arguing that public officials should adhere to stringent standards of conduct.

James is accused of utilizing a loan of $109,600 to acquire a three-bedroom, one-bathroom residence in Norfolk on August 17, 2020. Authorities claim that she initially intended to be the primary resident of the property, while her grandniece actually occupied it and paid rent.

If found guilty on both counts, James could potentially face up to 60 years in prison and a hefty fine reaching $2 million.