Trump foe Letitia James to plead not guilty in mortgage fraud case

New York Attorney General Letitia James will plead not guilty Friday morning in federal court in Virginia to a fraud case linked to mortgage records she signed in 2020.

James is a long-time foe of President Donald Trump. publicly encouraged Attorney General Pam Bondi will target him weeks before trial accused.

James’ hearing in U.S. District Court in Norfolk is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET. He faces one count each of bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution.

James called the accusations “baseless” and said the indictment “is nothing but a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.”

In a highly unusual move, Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan personally presented evidence against James to the grand jury before issuing the indictment. U.S. attorneys normally have assistant U.S. attorneys present evidence to grand juries.

James plans to file a motion Friday to ask for his case to be dismissed as the AG’s lawyers object to Halligan’s “illegal appointment” He told the court on Thursday.

Halligan was appointed U.S. Attorney after his predecessor, Erik Siebert, resigned under pressure from Trump.

Siebert had refrained from bringing charges against James and former FBI Director James Comey, another Trump foe who was indicted after Halligan presented evidence to another grand jury.

Halligan previously served as one of Trump’s personal lawyers.

This is developing news. Please check back for updates.