letitia james

As of October 9, 2025, New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of bank fraud

. The indictment came after President Donald Trump publicly called for his political opponents, including James, to be prosecuted.

Key details of the indictment and the surrounding events include:

The allegations: The charges relate to alleged mortgage fraud. In April 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency referred James to the Justice Department, alleging she falsified records to secure more favorable loan terms for a Virginia property she bought in 2023. The accusation claims James wrongly designated the property as her primary residence.

A politically-appointed prosecutor: Evidence in the case was presented to the grand jury by Lindsey Halligan, who was appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by President Trump. Halligan took over after the previous U.S. Attorney, Erik Siebert, resigned amid pressure from the Trump administration after reportedly expressing doubts about the case.
Retaliation claims: The indictment is seen by many as politically motivated, part of a campaign by President Trump against his adversaries. James was responsible for the New York civil fraud case against Trump and his company, which resulted in a massive penalty that an appeals court later voided as “excessive”.
Prior investigation: The FBI opened a formal criminal probe into the mortgage fraud claims in May 2025. James’s lawyer previously described the accusations as baseless.
Broader context: The indictment of James is the second recent instance of a Trump foe facing federal charges under his administration. Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on similar charges in late September 2025.

Before the recent indictment, Letitia “Tish” James was best known for her career as a lawyer and New York politician:

Current role: She has served as the Attorney General of New York since 2019, making her the first African American and first woman to hold the position.
Prior offices: She previously served as the New York City Public Advocate from 2013 to 2018 and represented parts of Brooklyn on the New York City Council from 2004 to 2013.
Key actions as Attorney General: She has been involved in several high-profile cases, including a successful lawsuit against the National Rifle Association and a sexual harassment investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. She also initiated the successful civil fraud case against Donald Trump.