New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted Thursday on federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, becoming the second high-profile political figure in as many weeks to face prosecution following public calls by President Donald Trump to target his perceived enemies.
James — who gained national attention for her successful civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and for leading numerous legal challenges to his administration’s policies — denounced the charges as politically motivated, calling them a blatant abuse of power by the president.
The indictment was announced by Lindsey Halligan, the recently installed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who was hand-picked by Trump after he removed her predecessor, Erik Siebert. According to sources, Siebert and other career prosecutors had previously concluded that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against James related to her 2023 home purchase in Virginia.
Despite those findings, Trump reportedly pressured the Justice Department to take action. In a September Oval Office press briefing, he said of James, “It looks to me like she is very guilty of something, but I really don’t know.” He also confirmed his role in ousting Siebert, citing frustration with the lack of prosecutions against political opponents.
Following the indictment, James issued a fiery statement accusing Trump of weaponizing federal law enforcement to pursue a personal vendetta.
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” 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 indictment has drawn swift condemnation from Democratic leaders and civil rights advocates across New York. Governor Kathy Hochul called the move “an egregious misuse of the Department of Justice to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.”
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Reverend Al Sharpton, and the NAACP also issued statements defending James and warning that the charges undermine public trust in impartial justice.
James’ indictment comes on the heels of charges filed against former FBI Director James Comey, another figure long targeted by Trump and his allies. Critics say these cases reflect an increasingly aggressive campaign by the Trump administration to punish political adversaries through the courts.
Legal analysts note that while prosecutors are obligated to pursue credible allegations, the timing and circumstances surrounding James’ indictment raise serious concerns about political interference.
“It’s clear that federal prosecutors previously determined there wasn’t enough to go on,” said one former DOJ official. “This reversal appears less about facts and more about politics.”
As James prepares to fight the charges, her supporters are bracing for a legal and political battle that may once again put the independence of the American justice system under national scrutiny.
