New York Attorney General Letitia James has been criminally indicted on federal charges by a grand jury. James, who led a civil fraud investigation against Trump in 2023, was indicted on charges of bank fraud in the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, according to court documents.
Prosecutors accuse James of alleged bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution regarding a mortgage loan for a house in Norfolk, Virginia, the documents state.
In a statement, James accused the president—who recently publicly pressured prosecutors to file criminal charges against her—of a desperate weaponization of our justice system.
He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State attorney general, she said. These charges are baseless, and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost.
The U.S. prosecutor assigned to the case, Lindsey Halligan, contended that the charges demonstrate that no one is above the law.
The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public's trust, she stated. The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.
Trump appointed Halligan, his former personal attorney, to oversee the case after another U.S. prosecutor, Erik Siebert, resigned. Siebert reportedly stepped down after telling the justice department he found no sufficient evidence to charge James.
James' first court appearance is scheduled for October 24 in Norfolk. Prosecutors allege that James bought a three-bedroom home in Norfolk using a mortgage loan stating that she would use the property as her secondary residence. However, the indictment claims the property was not used as stated and was instead a rental investment property.
Attorney Abbe Lowell described the case as driven by Trump's desire for revenge. Notably, this indictment is part of a broader narrative where Trump has called on the DOJ to investigate his political opponents, further complicating the existing tensions between law enforcement and political figures.
James previously won a civil fraud case against Trump, in which he was found liable for falsifying records, leading to a significant financial penalty that is currently under appeal. The current indictment represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflicts between James and Trump, raising concerns about the politicization of the legal system in the U.S.
Prosecutors accuse James of alleged bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution regarding a mortgage loan for a house in Norfolk, Virginia, the documents state.
In a statement, James accused the president—who recently publicly pressured prosecutors to file criminal charges against her—of a desperate weaponization of our justice system.
He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State attorney general, she said. These charges are baseless, and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost.
The U.S. prosecutor assigned to the case, Lindsey Halligan, contended that the charges demonstrate that no one is above the law.
The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public's trust, she stated. The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.
Trump appointed Halligan, his former personal attorney, to oversee the case after another U.S. prosecutor, Erik Siebert, resigned. Siebert reportedly stepped down after telling the justice department he found no sufficient evidence to charge James.
James' first court appearance is scheduled for October 24 in Norfolk. Prosecutors allege that James bought a three-bedroom home in Norfolk using a mortgage loan stating that she would use the property as her secondary residence. However, the indictment claims the property was not used as stated and was instead a rental investment property.
Attorney Abbe Lowell described the case as driven by Trump's desire for revenge. Notably, this indictment is part of a broader narrative where Trump has called on the DOJ to investigate his political opponents, further complicating the existing tensions between law enforcement and political figures.
James previously won a civil fraud case against Trump, in which he was found liable for falsifying records, leading to a significant financial penalty that is currently under appeal. The current indictment represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflicts between James and Trump, raising concerns about the politicization of the legal system in the U.S.
