New York Attorney General Letitia James firmly pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges alleging she falsified mortgage documents to obtain favorable loan terms. Many see this case as being driven by political vengeance from President Donald Trump.
James’ court appearance in Norfolk, Virginia, marked the opening of what is shaping up to be a fierce legal and political confrontation between Trump’s administration and one of his most prominent Democratic opponents. The attorney general, who previously secured a major fraud judgment against Trump, denounced the charges as “a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and who stood up for the rule of law.”
“My faith is strong, and I have this belief in the justice system and the rule of law, and I have a belief in America,” she told reporters outside the courthouse, smiling as supporters chanted, “We stand with Tish!” She added, “There’s no fear today.”
The judge scheduled the trial for January 26. Defense attorneys signaled they would seek dismissal of the case, arguing it was a politically motivated prosecution ordered by the president.
James was indicted earlier this month on bank fraud and false-statement charges tied to her 2020 purchase of a home in Norfolk, Virginia. Prosecutors claim she falsely described the property as a second residence rather than an investment to access lower interest rates. The case followed the forced resignation of Erik Siebert, the former U.S. attorney who reportedly resisted pressure from Trump officials to indict her, before being replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer and White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience.
The indictment has raised new concerns about political interference within the Justice Department. Trump himself publicly demanded action against James and other perceived enemies, declaring in a social media post that the administration “can’t delay any longer” and that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
On Thursday, James’ legal team asked the court to bar prosecutors from leaking information to the media following revelations that Halligan had communicated with a Lawfare reporter via an encrypted messaging platform to complain about press coverage. “The exchange was a stunning disclosure of internal government information,” her lawyers wrote, calling it a breach of prosecutorial ethics.
They further argued that Halligan’s lack of prosecutorial background was no excuse: “All federal prosecutors are required to know and follow the rules governing their conduct from their first day on the job, and so any lack of experience cannot excuse their violation.”
James’ defense motion also requested that all government communications with media outlets be preserved and that no related records be deleted. Separately, her lawyers announced plans to challenge Halligan’s appointment, a move replicated by former FBI Director James Comey’s legal team in a similar prosecution under the Trump administration.
The indictment against James adds to a string of cases targeting high-profile Trump critics. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton recently pleaded not guilty to mishandling classified information, while Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook also face ongoing mortgage investigations, both of which they have denied wrongdoing.
If convicted, James could face significant prison time, though her attorneys maintain the charges are “a clear abuse of power” designed to punish her for holding Trump accountable.
