(NewsNation) — A Trump-appointed prosecutor indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on federal bank fraud charges Thursday, an official confirmed to NewsNation.
James is charged with one charge of bank fraud and one charge of providing false information to a financial institution. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison on each charge, up to $1 million in fines and forfeiture.
The charges were brought by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan, who had no prosecutorial experience until she was appointed to the position.
“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. The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served,” Halligan said in a statement.
The previous attorney in the post resigned over efforts to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey.
Letitia James accused of bank fraud, providing false information: indictment
According to the indictment, James purchased a Virginia home that she said was for her to occupy and instead rented the home out. Prosecutors say she allegedly deceived the bank in order to get better mortgage terms.
In a statement, James denied any wrongdoing and defended her previous prosecution of the president.
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s 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.
President Donald Trump has pushed for the prosecution of both Comey and James, urging the Justice Department to investigate them and others who have opposed him.
James’ full statement on the indictment:
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s 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. These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost. The president’s actions are a grave violation of our Constitutional order and have drawn sharp criticism from members of both parties.
His decision to fire a United States Attorney who refused to bring charges against me – and replace them with someone who is blindly loyal not to the law, but to the president – is antithetical to the bedrock principles of our country. This is the time for leaders on both sides of the aisle to speak out against this blatant perversion of our system of justice. I stand strongly behind my office’s litigation against the Trump Organization. We conducted a two-year investigation based on the facts and evidence – not politics. Judges have upheld the trial court’s finding that Donald Trump, his company, and his two sons are liable for fraud.
I am a proud woman of faith, and I know that faith and fear cannot share the same space. And so today I am not fearful, I am fearless, and as my faith teaches me, no weapon formed against me shall prosper. We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights. And I will continue to do my job.”
Letitia James’ case against President Trump
James successfully prosecuted a civil fraud case against the president and his organization, which resulted in Trump being convicted of 34 felony counts.
Trump has maintained the case was politically motivated and accused Democrats of weaponizing the Justice Department in an effort to harm his presidential campaign.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, used the indictment to promote his legislation on social media.
“The Senate must pass my LETITIA Act to ensure that all corrupt public officials are held accountable for committing fraud & using their position of power to enrich themselves. Glad to see justice served,” he said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also responded.
“New Yorkers know @NewYorkStateAG James for her integrity, her independence, and her relentless fight for justice. What we’re seeing today is nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable,” she said on X.
James’ first appearance is set for Oct. 24 at 9 a.m. in Norfolk.
