New York Attorney General Letitia James has been charged with alleged fraud, becoming the second political figure in a two-week span to face prosecution following President Donald Trump’s public demand that the Justice Department act “now” to charge his political enemies.
James, who successfully brought a civil fraud case against Trump last year and is leading multiple lawsuits challenging his administration’s policies, he was charged with one federal count of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
Newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, announced the charges Thursday. James was ordered to appear in court on October 24 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Halligan was appointed US attorney by Trump after his ouster his predecessor, Erik Siebert, who sources said had expressed doubts internally about bringing cases against James and former FBI Director James Comey.
As ABC News first reported, sources said Siebert and other career prosecutors in Virginia determined there was no clear evidence that James had knowingly committed mortgage fraud, but Trump officials still pressured Siebert to file criminal charges against her.
“It seems to me like [James] “He’s very guilty of something, but I really don’t know,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in September when he confirmed he wanted Siebert “out” of the job.
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate militarization of our justice system,” James said in a statement following the indictment. “He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as Attorney General of the State of New York.”
Letitia James attends Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s Spring into Action Gala at Cipriani South Street on April 24, 2025 in New York.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
“These accusations are unfounded and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any price,” he said.
Prosecutors allege that James deceived a bank to obtain more favorable terms on a loan, specifically claiming that a property was to be a residence, when, according to prosecutors, it was to be rented for profit.
However, after a five-month investigation and interviews with more than a dozen witnesses, federal prosecutors uncovered no clear evidence against James, sources told ABC News.
“No one is above the law. The charges alleged in this case represent intentional criminal acts and tremendous violations of the public trust,” Halligan said in a statement Thursday announcing the charges. “The facts and law in this case are clear and we will continue to follow them to ensure justice is served.”
Halligan last month filed an indictment against Comey on charges of making a false statement and obstruction related to his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, just days after Trump issued a statement. public demand that his Department of Justice act “now” to initiate proceedings against Comey, James and California Senator Adam Schiff.
“Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff and Leticia???” Trump wrote in a social media post directly addressing Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We can’t delay any longer, it’s destroying our reputation and credibility. I was accused twice and charged (five times!), FOR NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE DONE, NOW!!!”
Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday and will seek to have his case dismissed for vindictive prosecution.
