Letitia James Responds to Indictment
New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed confidence on Thursday, vowing to rely on both scripture and her determination to counter allegations that she believes stem from a political campaign led by President Donald Trump to undermine her office.
On the same day, a federal grand jury indicted her following a case filed by Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Harrigan in Virginia. In a defiant video shared on social media, James declared she would not let fear take hold of her, emphasizing that she is committed to fighting back vigorously.
“As a proud woman of faith, I understand that faith and fear can’t coexist. So, I’m standing here fearless today. My beliefs teach me that no weapon formed against me will prevail. We will push back against these unfounded accusations, and my office will continue to robustly defend the rights of New Yorkers,” she stated.
James labeled the charges as ungrounded, accusing Trump of misusing the justice system for personal vendetta.
“This is just a continuation of the president’s desperate attempts to manipulate our justice system. He’s pressuring federal law enforcement to carry out his orders—all because I’ve been doing my job as the attorney general of New York,” James remarked. “These allegations are unfounded, and the President has made it clear that his primary goal is to seek political retribution, which is an alarming violation of our constitutional order, drawing criticism across party lines.”
James urged leaders from both political parties to denounce what she views as an erosion of the justice system.
She added, “The president’s choice to dismiss a federal prosecutor who wouldn’t pursue charges against me, replacing him with someone solely loyal to him rather than to legal principles, undermines the foundational ideals of our nation. It’s crucial for leaders on both sides to stand against this overt distortion of our justice system.” She reaffirmed her support for her office’s ongoing case against the Trump Organization, which followed a two-year investigation based on solid evidence rather than political aims.
President Trump appointed Harrigan in September after Eric Siebert resigned for refusing to bring charges against James. Earlier, a federal grand jury in the same district indicted former FBI Director James Comey, who entered a plea of not guilty over accusations of misleading Congress.
In April, the Federal Housing Finance Agency referred James to the Department of Justice amid claims of falsifying mortgage documents. Allegations surfaced that she misrepresented a property in Virginia as her primary residence to secure better mortgage terms, despite her residency requirements in New York.
James previously sued Trump in 2022, asserting he inflated his wealth to obtain favorable loans. In August, however, the New York Court of Appeals overturned a nearly $500 million civil fraud penalty against him, deeming it “excessive.”
