MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos expressed concerns on Friday, suggesting that New York Attorney General Letitia James might face complications due to her ongoing investigation, which could infringe on President Donald Trump’s civil rights through legal actions.
A lawyer representing the Upstate District of New York has issued a subpoena in connection with James’ civil fraud case against Trump and his company, as well as her case involving the National Rifle Association, according to reports from the New York Times. Cevallos mentioned during “Chris Jansing’s Report” that the investigation might uncover unrelated damaging information about James.
“For citizens, there’s nothing quite as unsettling as receiving a subpoena or realizing they’re under federal investigation. It’s alarming. The investigations are extensive,” Cevallos noted. “The authorities are collecting large amounts of information and are quite efficient in analyzing it. The issue arises when they might inadvertently uncover unexpected information while sifting through all that data.”
“That’s why being the focus of such an expansive investigation is concerning. The federal government’s broad investigative powers mean Letitia James should be worried,” he added. “Even if she hasn’t done anything wrong, the scrutiny of years’ worth of financial and business records could draw attention.”
James has been investigating Trump since her campaign for Attorney General in 2018, ultimately filing a lawsuit in September 2022 that accused him of inflating the value of his properties to secure loans. In February 2024, she secured a ruling requiring Trump to pay $354 million.
James’ attorney, Abbe Lowell, criticized the investigation as a blatant instance of political retaliation. He asserted, “For the Justice Department to misuse its power against elected officials doing their jobs poses a threat to the rule of law and is a dangerous development.” He further stated that if the prosecutor pursues this approach in an attempt to uncover the truth, they would be prepared to present factual information and legal arguments.
Additionally, it was reported that the FBI and U.S. attorneys from the Upstate New York area initiated a formal investigation into James on May 8th.
