FBI begins investigation against New York Attorney General Letitia James
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into New York State Attorney General Letitia James, multiple news outlets have reported.
New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on October 9 on charges of bank fraud and making false statements in response to a financial institution complaint, the Department of Justice announced.
The indictment marks the second indictment of people considered President Donald Trump’s enemies in the Eastern District of Virginia under U.S. Attorney Lindsay Harrigan, whom Trump appointed after he claimed to have fired then-U.S. Attorney Eric Siebert.
According to the outlet, Siebert told the Justice Department there was insufficient evidence to indict James. He also expressed concern about a separate lawsuit against former FBI Director James Comey.
In a Sept. 20 social media post, President Trump called for the prosecution of James, Comey, and California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, who played a leading role in both previous presidential impeachments.
In a video statement posted to X, James forcefully declared his innocence and called the prosecution a “hopeless weaponization of our justice system.”
“He is forcing federal law enforcement to do his bidding, all because I was performing my duties as New York attorney general,” James said.
Here’s what you need to know about Letitia James.
James won civil suit against Trump
Ms. James has served as New York State Attorney General since 2019 and was elected attorney general in 2018, making her the first woman of color to hold a New York state-wide office and the first woman elected as state attorney general.
In 2022, Mr. James filed a civil lawsuit against Mr. Trump, his entities and some family members, accusing them of fraudulently inflating the value of Mr. Trump’s assets for years to secure more favorable 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 financial penalty, leaving in place certain business restrictions imposed by Engoron. James’ office appealed the decision.
In September, she accused the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security of seeking to “rewrite immigration law, erase due process protections, and deny people their most basic constitutional rights,” according to amNY.
She is also an ally of New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani. “No one should be surprised that Donald Trump is employing fascist tactics: prosecuting his opponents, weaponizing the federal government, and attacking the very foundations of our democracy,” Mamdani said in a statement provided to USA TODAY.
Before becoming attorney general, James was elected to the New York City Board of Public Hearings in 2013, according to his attorney general’s biography. She also served on the New York City Council, representing Brooklyn’s 35th Congressional District for 10 years.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, James is a graduate of Lehman College and Howard University School of Law.
Contributor: Francesca Chambers – USA TODAY
