In a September 20 social media post, President Donald Trump called for criminal charges against his opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James.
New York AG Letitia James charged with bank fraud
New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on bank fraud charges weeks after President Donald Trump was indicted.
New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 9 on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, less than three weeks after President Donald Trump publicly called for the charges.
The indictment followed an indictment against another Trump critic, former FBI Director James Comey. A federal grand jury in the same jurisdiction, the Eastern District of Virginia, indicted Comey on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing Congress. Mr. Comey has pleaded not guilty and has pleaded not guilty.
“This is nothing but the continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of the justice system, as he forces federal law enforcement to do his bidding, all while performing my duties as New York’s attorney general,” James said in a statement after the indictment.
James’ office filed a civil lawsuit against Trump in 2022, accusing him of fraudulently inflating the value of assets over a period of years to obtain better loan deals.
In a statement, Ms. James said the charges against her were “unfounded.” That message was echoed in a statement from attorney Abby Rowell, a prominent lawyer who represents several clients challenging the Trump administration.
“Attorney General James categorically and forcefully denies these charges, and we are deeply concerned that this incident is driven by President Trump’s desire for revenge,” Lowell said.
“No one is above the law,” Lindsey Harrigan, Trump’s former personal attorney and Justice Department official who has led the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Virginia for nearly three weeks, said in a statement.
“The charges alleged in this case represent intentional criminal conduct and a serious breach of the public trust,” Harrigan added. “The facts and law in this case are clear and we will continue to follow them to ensure justice is served.”
Shortly after news of the indictment broke, Attorney General Bondy posted a line on X that read, “A step of justice for all Americans.”
Trump calls for James to be indicted, replaces skeptical prosecutor
In a September 20 social media post, President Trump called for the prosecution of James, Comey, and California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff. Mr. Schiff played a leading role in both of Mr. Trump’s previous presidential impeachments, and Mr. Comey was the FBI director who investigated contacts between the Trump campaign and the Russian government in 2016.
President Trump fired Comey in 2017, but special counsel Robert Mueller ultimately concluded there was not enough evidence that the Trump campaign collaborated with Russia.
“They’re all incredibly guilty… and there’s a big case,” Trump said in a Sept. 20 post, without explaining what he was accusing them of. “Justice must be served now!!!”
On the same day that the post was made, President Trump replaced longtime prosecutor Eric Siebert with Harrigan. Siebert reportedly concluded there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Letitia James and also questioned the level of evidence against James Comey. Mr. Harrigan had never prosecuted anyone before.
What is Letitia James accused of?
James faces two criminal charges. One charge is that he committed bank fraud, and the other charge is that he made a false statement to a financial institution.
In the indictment, Mr. James is accused of attempting to defraud two financial institutions: OVM Financial and First Savings Bank. They allege that the three-bedroom, one-bathroom property they purchased in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2020 was incorrectly listed as a second home. In fact, according to the indictment, it was an investment property that she did not plan to live in personally.
James rented the space to a family member, according to the indictment. It alleges she falsely represented that she used the property to obtain better mortgage terms.
New York state to sue Trump in 2022
In 2022, James filed a civil suit against Trump, his entities and some family members, accusing them of fraudulently inflating the value of Trump’s assets for years in order to obtain better loan and insurance terms. New York Judge Arthur Engoron agreed, and after a months-long trial ordered Trump himself to pay about $454 million in fines.
In August, the New York Court of Appeals reversed the fine, although it upheld certain business restrictions that Engoron had imposed. James’ office appealed the decision.
“This is not justice. It’s revenge”: Democrats react
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that James’ indictment “should strike fear into every American who believes that no one is above the law.”
“This is what tyranny looks like,” Schumer said. “Mr. Trump personally selected an unqualified hack to target another political opponent. This is not justice. This is revenge.”
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, also expressed concerns about the country’s system. He said in a statement that Trump, with the help of Attorney General Pam Bondi, has succeeded in turning the Justice Department into a shield to protect allies and a sword to attack adversaries.
“If any Republican elected officials actually care about a weaponized Justice Department, speak up now,” he said.
Contributor: Eduardo Cuevas
This story has been updated with additional information.
