New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a motion to dismiss the federal fraud charges brought against her by the Trump administration — arguing that she’s the victim of “vindictive prosecution.”
The irony wasn’t lost on critics. James, who famously ran her first campaign promising to “get Trump,” now says she’s being unfairly targeted for her political speech and duties as New York’s top law enforcement officer.
In a 50-page filing, her legal team claimed the charges stem from President Trump’s “personal animus,” pointing to comments he’s made about her over the years — including calling her “scum” and “a complete disaster.”
However, opponents argue that James’s plea is rich with hypocrisy. She built her reputation by prosecuting Trump and his organization for civil fraud, leading to a $354 million penalty — a fine later overturned on appeal.
Now, she faces her own legal firestorm: federal prosecutors accuse her of misrepresenting her Virginia property as a “secondary residence” to obtain better mortgage terms, then secretly renting it out to tenants. The alleged scheme saved her nearly $19,000.
James pleaded not guilty at her Oct. 23 arraignment, vowing to fight back and labeling the case “politically motivated.” Her attorneys called the Department of Justice “too tainted with unconstitutional motivation to bring these charges fairly.”
Observers say the case underscores how politically charged prosecutions have become on both sides — and that James’s attempt to play the victim may not convince many Americans who watched her rise to power on promises to destroy Trump.
“After years of calling Trump corrupt, Letitia James now claims she’s the target of corruption — and that’s a twist no one saw coming.”
What happens next could reshape how political prosecutions are perceived — especially as the 2026 election season heats up.
