Letitia James Indicted Amid Trump Administration's Legal Actions

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted on charges of mortgage fraud, as the Trump administration intensifies its legal actions against political opponents. A grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, returned the indictment on Thursday, accusing James of one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement to a lending institution. This indictment follows a similar one against former FBI Director James Comey just weeks earlier.

The charges stem from a mortgage application James submitted in 2023 for a home in Norfolk, Virginia, which she purchased for approximately $137,000. The indictment alleges that she falsely claimed the property would be her secondary residence, while actually using it as an investment property. This misrepresentation reportedly allowed her to secure a lower interest rate, saving her around $19,000 over the loan's duration.

James, a Democrat and a long-time critic of Trump, stated that she would continue her role as New York's top law enforcement official and described the charges as “a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.” She vowed to fight the charges vigorously, calling them baseless.

The indictment requires prosecutors to prove that James acted with criminal intent, meaning she knowingly provided false information to gain a financial advantage. Her attorney, Abbe Lowell, argued that any misstatements were unintentional and that James had clarified her intentions in other documents.

James is scheduled to appear in court on October 24. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker, appointed by President Joe Biden.

This legal action against James is part of a broader pattern, as the Justice Department has also opened investigations into other political figures, including U.S. Senator Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, although neither has been charged with a crime.

James previously won a civil case against Trump, resulting in a significant penalty for fraudulently inflating his assets. Trump has consistently claimed that James' actions are politically motivated, referring to her as a partisan enemy. The ongoing legal battles reflect a contentious political climate, with both sides accusing each other of using the justice system for political gain.