New York Attorney General Letitia James, who previously led a successful civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Virginia.
The indictment, reported by CNN and other major US media outlets, accuses the 66-year-old Democrat of mortgage fraud related to a 2023 real estate transaction involving a property she allegedly helped her niece purchase in Virginia.
The charges were filed by US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a Trump appointee, following the resignation of her predecessor, Erik Siebert. Siebert reportedly stepped down after informing Justice Department officials that there was insufficient evidence to pursue cases against James and other high-profile individuals.
The case was presented to the grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, by Halligan herself, according to The Washington Post. The indictment marks a significant escalation in what critics have described as a campaign of political retaliation by Trump and his allies.
In recent weeks, former FBI Director James Comey—another frequent target of Trump—was also indicted by the same office. Comey, 64, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The charges stem from his 2020 Senate testimony regarding the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He is accused of falsely denying that he had authorized an FBI employee to act as an anonymous source for media reports.
Comey’s attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, has announced plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges, calling the case a “vindictive and selective prosecution.” If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison. His trial is scheduled to begin on January 5.
Letitia James rose to national prominence after filing a high-profile civil fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump, accusing him and his company of inflating asset values to secure favorable loans and insurance terms. A New York judge ordered Trump to pay $464 million in penalties, though a higher court later stayed the financial portion of the ruling while upholding the central finding of fraud.
Following the indictments of both James and Comey, Trump has publicly renewed his calls for further prosecutions of political opponents, including Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has taken a series of controversial steps against critics and institutions he considers hostile, including the dismissal of federal officials, attempts to defund universities, and efforts to sanction law firms involved in past litigation against him.
AFP
