New York Attorney General Letitia James, a known adversary of President Donald Trump, has been charged with bank fraud and making false statements to a lending institution by the U.S. Justice Department. Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced the indictment, citing allegations of intentional criminal acts and breaches of public trust. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison. James condemned the charges as politically motivated, accusing the president of weaponizing the justice system for retribution.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York criticized the indictment as an abuse of power to target those holding influential figures accountable. The case against James follows the recent indictment of former FBI director James Comey on charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation. Trump has been vocal in his criticism of both James and Comey, accusing them of wrongdoing.
The indictments against James and Comey were initiated by Halligan, who replaced the previous federal prosecutor in Virginia after Trump demanded his resignation. James defended her investigative actions against Trump, emphasizing the importance of factual evidence over political motives. The cases against James and Comey face potential legal challenges, with Comey’s lawyers planning to contest Halligan’s appointment as U.S. attorney.
Letitia James is among several Democratic state attorneys general who have taken legal action against the Trump administration. Notably, she pursued a civil fraud case against Trump and his real estate company, resulting in a significant financial penalty. Trump and James are currently appealing a court ruling related to the case. The Justice Department’s probe into James’s mortgage fraud allegations stemmed from accusations of falsified records in loan applications for properties in Virginia and New York.
James’s lawyer defended her actions, stating that any misrepresentation regarding property use was unintentional. The Justice Department’s investigation has also targeted other political figures, including Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook, although no charges have been filed against them. The scrutiny into mortgage applications for primary residences raises questions about potential rate discrepancies based on property usage intentions.
