The Trump administration has intensified its pursuit of political adversaries, with New York Attorney General Letitia James a prominent Democrat and longtime critic of former President Donald Trump indicted on Thursday for alleged mortgage fraud.
A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, charged James with one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a lending institution, according to court filings.
The charges mark the second high-profile indictment in two weeks against Trump’s opponents, following similar charges against former FBI Director James Comey. Federal investigations are also underway targeting Senator Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, both of whom have denied wrongdoing.
James swiftly condemned the indictment as politically motivated, declaring, “These baseless charges are a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponisation of our justice system. We will fight them aggressively.”
Trump administration officials, however, dismissed allegations of political interference. US Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X that the charges represent “one tier of justice for all Americans.”
According to prosecutors, James misrepresented her Norfolk, Virginia property as a secondary residence on a 2020 mortgage application, allegedly securing a favorable interest rate that saved her roughly $19,000 over the loan’s duration.
Lindsey Halligan, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement, “The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust.”
James’ lawyer, Abbe Lowell, pushed back, saying his client “mistakenly stated” the property’s use and that the move to prosecute her stemmed from “Trump’s desire for revenge.”
James is scheduled to appear in court on October 24 before US District Judge Jamar Walker, a Biden appointee.
The indictment underscores escalating political warfare between the Trump administration and its critics. James famously led the 2022 civil fraud suit against Trump and his company a case that resulted in a $454.2 million penalty, later overturned on appeal but leaving the former president legally liable for fraud.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the charges, saying, “This is what tyranny looks like. President Trump is using the Justice Department as his personal attack dog.”
The indictment of James follows Trump’s September 20 social media post naming James, Comey, and Schiff as “guilty as hell.” Both the Comey and James cases were brought by Lindsey Halligan, the newly installed US attorney in Alexandria, who reportedly bypassed career prosecutors.
Legal experts warn the indictments could face procedural challenges, particularly over Halligan’s appointment, but for now, the cases signal a dramatic new phase in Trump’s promised campaign of retribution.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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