New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led the high-profile civil fraud case against Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal bank fraud charges, accusing the president of turning the US justice system into a “tool of revenge.”
James, 67, appeared in a federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, where she entered a not guilty plea to one count of bank fraud and another of making false statements to a financial institution. The charges relate to a property purchase she made in Virginia in 2020.
The presiding judge scheduled the next hearing for December 5, with the trial set to begin on January 26.
Outside the courthouse, a defiant James addressed a small crowd of supporters holding placards that read “Defend Democracy” and “Revenge Is Not Democracy.”
“This is not about me,” she declared. “This is about all of us—and about a justice system which has been weaponized, a justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge.”
The charges against James come amid a broader pattern of prosecutions targeting Trump critics. She is the third high-profile figure to face criminal charges in recent weeks, following former FBI director James Comey and Trump’s onetime national security adviser, John Bolton. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Comey faces charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, while Bolton is accused of mishandling classified documents.
The cases against James and Comey were filed by US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who was appointed by Trump after the previous prosecutor resigned, citing insufficient evidence.
Trump, who has openly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue legal action against his political opponents, has continued to escalate his rhetoric against critics.
James rose to national prominence after she sued Trump and his real estate company in 2022, alleging they fraudulently inflated asset values to secure favorable loans and insurance terms. A New York state judge later ruled against Trump, imposing a $464 million penalty that was later suspended by a higher court, though the underlying judgment was upheld. James has since appealed the ruling.
Trump has also publicly called for the prosecution of other adversaries, including Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, who led his first impeachment in the House of Representatives.
Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, has filed a motion to dismiss his client’s case, calling it a “vindictive and selective prosecution.” James’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said he plans to do the same.
Comey, appointed FBI director by President Barack Obama in 2013, was fired by Trump in 2017 during the investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has taken a hard line against perceived enemies, removing officials he deems disloyal, targeting law firms that represented plaintiffs in cases against him, and cutting federal funding to several universities.
What You Should Know
Letitia James, who once led the landmark fraud case against Donald Trump, now finds herself facing criminal prosecution under his administration.
Her case, alongside those of other prominent Trump critics, has raised renewed concerns about political retribution and the weaponization of the US justice system.
