Letitia James Responds to Federal Charges

New York Attorney General Letitia James has pledged to challenge federal bank fraud charges that prosecutors appointed by President Trump have brought against her, asserting they are driven by political motives.

“I’m standing on solid ground. I won’t bow, I won’t bend,” she declared during a rally for Democratic mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani, as reported by The Hill’s affiliate NewsNation.

While she did not specifically name Trump, James referenced “powerful voices” that are “trying to punish speaking the truth” and accused them of “weaponizing justice for political gain.”

James was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia last Thursday on charges of bank fraud and providing false information to a financial institution. These allegations stem from claims made by the Federal Housing Finance Agency that James falsely identified her Virginia home as her primary residence while serving in her New York public office.

In a statement following the indictment, James described the charges as “baseless,” suggesting they are part of a presidential agenda that seeks “political retribution at all costs.”

In 2022, James launched a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump’s organization, claiming he had exaggerated his net worth for tax and insurance benefits.

A New York state judge ruled against Trump and the other defendants, ordering them to pay over $464 million in penalties and interest in February 2024. This included more than $454 million for Trump and over $4 million each for his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric. The New York Court of Appeals later modified the penalty, raising it to approximately $527 million but did not overturn the entire ruling.

Trump, along with his sons and James, have appealed this recent decision.

In a twist, last month, Eric Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stepped down amid pressure from the administration as part of an investigation into James. Shortly after, President Trump nominated Lindsey Harrigan, a White House aide, to replace him.

Before appointing Harrigan, Trump had requested Attorney General Pam Bondi to indict James, a move he shared on his Truth Social platform. This message was reportedly directed at Bondi.

The Trump Justice Department has also recently secured an indictment against another adversary, former FBI Director James Comey.