New York AG James to appear in Norfolk for federal arraignment
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New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to stand trial Friday morning in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, on a two-count indictment stemming from statements she allegedly made about the nature of a second home she purchased in 2020.
James’ trial is the latest in a series of investigations against perceived political enemies of the president, despite objections from career prosecutors, some of whom have since been fired or resigned.
James was charged with two counts of federal bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
The indictment stems from his 2020 purchase of a home in Norfolk, Virginia, where prosecutors allege he misled a bank about the nature of the home to obtain more favorable loan terms.
James has vehemently denied wrongdoing and is expected to plead not guilty.
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President Donald Trump walks with Attorney General Pam Bondi during her visit to the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on March 14, 2025 (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“This is nothing more than the continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” James said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed against him.
“These accusations are baseless, and the president’s public statements make it clear that his sole purpose is political revenge at any cost,” he added.
His indictment, like that of FBI director James Comey, was presented to the grand jury by former White House aide Lindsey Halligan, whom Trump appointed acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia last month.
Trump said in September that he would appoint Halligan as attorney general for the Eastern District of Virginia, replacing interim attorney Erik Siebert, who resigned under pressure to impeach both Comey and James.
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New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks at a press conference on September 21, 2022 in New York. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File)
Like Comey’s, James’ indictment sparked arms concerns and intense reactions within the ranks of the Justice Department during Trump’s second term as president.
Both cases led to the resignation or firing of several career officials in the Eastern District of Virginia, including the Norfolk office, where two assistant U.S. attorneys were fired. reportedly He voices his opposition to filing James’ lawsuit.
Halligan will be joined in court Friday by Missouri-based federal prosecutor Roger Keller, according to court filings.
James’ defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, told the court they retained the services of former assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Bosse, who lives in Norfolk and previously headed the office’s criminal division.
The lawsuit against James comes after he filed a successful civil fraud lawsuit against President Donald Trump last year.
After the hearing, he will likely file a motion to dismiss his case for vindictive and selective prosecution, following similar steps taken by Comey’s legal team in Alexandria earlier this week.
His attorney, Lowell, called the case against him “improper political revenge” and vowed to “fight these charges to the fullest extent of the law.”
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The Justice Department did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment on the case or whether Halligan or Keller would be joined by other federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia.
