New York Attorney General Letitia James made her first public statement since assuming her role, declaring, “I will not surrender.” She faces allegations of bank fraud.
During a rally for New York mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani in Washington Heights, the crowd welcomed James with applause, amidst chants expressing support for her.
James spoke about “powerful voices trying to stifle the truth” and criticized those who “weaponize justice for political advantage,” though she didn’t directly mention President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for charges against her for some time, according to reports.
“We are witnessing the fraying of our democracy and the erosion of our systems of government,” she noted, linking her own economic difficulties to broader human rights concerns. She emphasized, “This is a defining moment in our history.”
James pledged to “not back down” and called on her supporters to uphold “all norms and all rules of law.”
“Come and get me! Come and get all of us!” she reportedly exclaimed, energizing the attendees. “Every single one of us!”
This event signified the start of the final stretch of Mamdani’s campaign as the November 4 elections approach.
As reported, James, a longstanding adversary of Trump, was charged with bank fraud and making false statements concerning a property purchased for $137,000 in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2020.
Federal prosecutors have alleged that the mortgage obtained for the home required it to be used primarily for personal purposes for a year, a condition James apparently violated by renting it to a family.
James has previously denied any wrongdoing, stating that any errors regarding the home purchase forms were innocent oversights that were quickly corrected and intended no deceit toward the lender.
She is set to appear in federal court in Virginia on October 24. If found guilty of a felony, she could lose her position as mandated by New York state law.
