New York Attorney General Letitia James, a known adversary of U.S. President Donald Trump, has been formally charged with bank fraud and making false statements to a lending institution, announced the U.S. Justice Department. These charges are the latest in a series of legal actions taken by the administration against individuals who have investigated Trump or opposed his policies publicly.
According to Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, James faces one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement related to mortgage fraud allegations. Halligan emphasized that the alleged actions represent intentional criminal behavior and a breach of public trust.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. However, any potential sentence would be determined by a judge if James is convicted. In response to the indictment, James condemned it as a part of the president’s efforts to misuse the justice system for political gain, asserting that the allegations are unfounded and driven by political retribution.
Meanwhile, Trump, a Republican who ran for re-election with a promise of retribution, has frequently criticized James as a political opponent through social media and public appearances. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, characterized the indictment as an abuse of power to target those holding the powerful accountable.
The indictment of Letitia James follows the recent indictment of former FBI director James Comey on charges of making false statements and obstructing an investigation. Comey pleaded not guilty, with Trump consistently challenging Comey’s actions regarding the FBI’s probe into his 2016 campaign’s connections with Russia.
Both James and Comey were indicted by Lindsey Halligan, who took over as the top federal prosecutor in Alexandria, Virginia, after her predecessor resigned following pressure from Trump. Critics have raised concerns about the strength of the evidence in these cases, indicating potential legal challenges ahead.
Letitia James, known for her legal actions against Trump, previously pursued a civil fraud case resulting in a significant penalty against the former president for financial misrepresentations. The penalty was later overturned on appeal, but the finding of fraud against Trump was upheld.
The Justice Department’s probe into James’s mortgage fraud allegations stems from accusations made by a Trump-appointed official regarding falsified records to secure favorable loans. James’s lawyer maintains that any misstatements were unintentional, and similar probes into other individuals have also been initiated without formal charges.