New York Attorney General Letitia James pleads not guilty in mortgage case pushed by Trump
James appeared in court in Virginia for her first hearing in the case. She faces bank fraud and false-statements charges over a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia.
New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during an event for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. (AP)
New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges alleging she provided false information on mortgage documents to get favourable loan terms, in a case linked to US President Donald Trump.
What happened
James appeared in court in Virginia for her first hearing in the case. She faces bank fraud and false-statements charges over a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia. The indictment says she signed a document promising the home would be used primarily for personal use, but instead rented it to a family of three. Prosecutors say this allowed her to obtain loan terms meant for personal, not investment, properties.
James’ lawyers said the case is politically motivated. She has sued president Trump and his administration multiple times and has consistently denied wrongdoing. “This indictment is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” her lawyers quoted her as saying.
Why it matters
The indictment comes after the resignation of Erik Siebert, the US attorney originally overseeing the case, who had resisted pressure from the Trump administration to bring charges. Siebert was replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide and Trump lawyer with no prior experience as a federal prosecutor, who presented the case to the grand jury.
Trump publicly called on the US Justice Department to pursue James and other political opponents, posting on social media that the administration “can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” and adding: “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
James’ lawyers have filed a motion asking the court to stop prosecutors from sharing information about the investigation with the media and to preserve all communications and records related to the case. They also plan to challenge Halligan’s appointment as US attorney, citing her lack of prosecutorial experience.
Similar steps have been taken in cases against other Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey and former national security adviser John Bolton, who have also pleaded not guilty to separate charges.
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New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during an event for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. (AP) 
