New York Attorney General charged criminally

A grand jury has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on federal criminal charges.

James, who led a civil fraud investigation against Trump in 2023, was charged with 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 in connection with a mortgage loan for a home in Norfolk, Virginia, documents state.

In a statement, James accused the president – who recently put public pressure on prosecutors to bring criminal charges against her – of “desperately using our justice system as a weapon.”

“He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as New York State’s Attorney,” she said.

He added: “These accusations are baseless, and the president’s public statements make it clear that his only goal is political revenge at any cost.”

Meanwhile, the US Attorney in charge of the case, Lindsay Halligan, said the case proves that “no one is above the law.”

“The charges alleged in this case represent intentional criminal acts and serious violations of the public trust,” she said.

He added: “The facts and law in this case are clear, and we will continue to follow them to ensure justice is achieved.”

Trump appointed Halligan, his former personal lawyer, to supervise the case after the resignation of another US prosecutor, Eric Seibert. Seibert was reportedly fired after telling the Justice Department that he did not find enough evidence to charge James.

James is scheduled to make his first court appearance on October 24 in Norfolk.

The federal government alleges that James purchased a three-bedroom home in Norfolk using a mortgage loan that required her to use the property as her secondary residence and did not allow for joint ownership or “time-sharing” of the home.

The indictment alleges that the property was “not occupied or used” by James as a secondary residence, but instead “was used as a rental investment property,” which was rented to a family of three.

Prosecutors allege that the “misrepresentation” allowed James to obtain favorable loan terms that were not available for an investment property.

If convicted, James could face up to 30 years in prison on each count and a fine of up to $1 million (£751,755) on each count, Halligan said.

“We are deeply concerned that this case is motivated by President Trump’s desire for revenge,” James’ attorney, Abby Lowell, said.

Last month, Trump called on US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who leads the Justice Department, in a social media post, to prosecute his political opponents, including James.

“We cannot postpone any longer, as this kills our reputation and credibility,” he wrote.

James was one of several Trump opponents mentioned in this post. Bundy also called for the investigation of former FBI Director James Comey, who was criminally indicted shortly after taking office. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday after being charged with making a false statement to Congress.

The Justice Department has also reportedly opened investigations into former Trump national security adviser John Bolton and California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff.

In James’s civil fraud case, Trump was found liable for falsifying records to secure better loan deals, resulting in a $500 million (£375 million) fine. An appeals court overturned that penalty, calling the fine excessive, although it upheld that Trump was responsible for the fraud.

During the case, Trump repeatedly attacked James outside the courtroom, accusing her of carrying out a “political witch hunt” against him. James said the courts ruled that Trump “is not above the law.”

James said Thursday that she stands behind the lawsuits her office has filed against Trump and his organization.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said James’ indictment “is nothing less than using the Department of Justice as a weapon to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.”

The New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union called it “the latest in a long list of brazen abuses of power by President Trump.”