New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on one count of bank fraud, according to reports, which cited an unnamed source familiar with the case. The charge reportedly stems from a mortgage fraud investigation.
James, a Democrat who has led several high-profile legal battles against former President Donald Trump and his businesses, responded swiftly to the indictment. In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, she denounced the case as “political retribution” and accused Trump of weaponizing federal agencies against her.
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” James said. “He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State Attorney General.”
Trump, who has repeatedly called for James’ indictment, has described her as “corrupt” and “guilty as hell,” claiming she targeted him for political gain.
James denied any intentional wrongdoing, acknowledging that she made a filing error related to a home purchase but insisted she corrected it promptly and did not deceive any lender.
Her attorney criticized the Justice Department for what he called a politically motivated prosecution, claiming the case is a direct response to James’ successful civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his companies. In that case, a New York judge found Trump, his organization, and two of his sons liable for fraudulently inflating the value of their assets.
“I stand strongly behind my office’s litigation against the Trump Organization,” James said in her statement. “We conducted a two-year investigation based on facts and evidence, not politics. I will not be intimidated or silenced.”
James added that her faith gives her strength to continue serving New Yorkers. “No weapon formed against me shall prosper,” she said. “We will fight these baseless charges aggressively and continue protecting the people of New York.”
The indictment follows recent legal turbulence in Washington, where former FBI Director James Comey was charged with two counts of making false statements and obstruction of justice.
Vice President JD Vance commented on Fox News Sunday that more indictments could come under the Trump administration, emphasizing that “the law and facts” will drive the process, not politics.
The developments mark another flashpoint in the country’s increasingly politicized legal landscape, as key figures from both parties face criminal scrutiny amid ongoing questions about the independence of federal investigations.
