New York Attorney General Letitia James has been criminally indicted on federal charges by a grand jury. James, who led a civil fraud investigation against Trump in 2023, was indicted on charges of bank fraud in the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, according to court documents.
Prosecutors accuse James of alleged bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution regarding a mortgage loan for a house in Norfolk, Virginia, the documents state.
In a statement, James accused the president - who recently publicly pressured prosecutors to file criminal charges against her - of a desperate weaponization of our justice system.
He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State attorney general, she said.
These charges are baseless, and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost.
The US prosecutor assigned to the case, Lindsey Halligan, meanwhile, said the case proved that no one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public's trust, she said.
James's first court appearance is scheduled for 24 October in Norfolk. The indictment alleges that she bought a three-bedroom home in Norfolk using a mortgage loan that required her to use the property as her secondary residence but instead was renting it out as an investment property.
If convicted, James could face severe penalties, including up to 30 years in prison per count and fines reaching $1 million on each count. James's attorney expressed concerns over the motivations behind the case, saying it appears to be driven by Trump's desire for revenge.
James, who previously took legal action against Trump for fraud, has indicated she will continue to pursue accountability against powerful figures irrespective of political pressures.
The indictment has ignited debates about justice and political accountability, with various advocates labeling it a politically charged maneuver that undermines judicial integrity.
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