Letitia James, the 67th New York attorney general, was indicted on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
James, who is known for tackling issues regarding suspicious landlords, drug and gun trafficking, irresponsible corporations and pollution, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Oct. 24 during her arraignment in Virginia.
According to PBS News, James is an adversary of President Donald Trump and the third person to appear in court in October. This highlights concerns that the president is seeking retribution through the Justice Department after facing his own legal troubles.
In September 2022, James filed a lawsuit against Trump, claiming that he and his family engaged in financial fraud involving the misrepresentation of the estimated value of their real estate property.
Trump was ordered to pay $500 million in damages in February 2024 after Judge Arthur Engoron found him liable for fraud. However, the New York appeals court recently voided the fine on Aug. 21.
According to CNBC, “James said she will ask the state’s highest court to overturn the decision related to the fine.”
In late 2023, during ongoing court proceedings, James noted how there was no one above the law, including the rich, emphasizing her agenda to pursue justice for the people of New York.
Following her indictment, Trump told reporters, “It looks to me like she is very guilty of something, but I really don’t know.”
In September 2025, Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, his former personal lawyer, as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after pressuring Erik Siegel, the previous interim attorney, to prosecute James.
Since then, Halligan has pushed allegations of two charges of bank fraud on a property James purchased in Virginia, leading to her indictment on Oct. 9.
On that same day, Halligan also stated that “no one is above the law” and that “the facts and the law in this place are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”
According to CNBC, James’ trial will be held in Norfolk, Virginia, on Jan. 26, 2026.
After leaving court on Oct. 24, James said that the justice system “has been weaponized” and “used as a tool of revenge.” She also called the charges baseless and said that the president continues to use the justice system as a weapon.
If James is found guilty, she could face a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million per charge.
