1:59Attorney General of New York Letitia James delivers remarks onstage during the 39th Annual Brooklyn Homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 20, 2025, in New York.Roy Rochlin/Getty Images | Leon Neal/Getty Images
In her initial public address since being charged with federal offenses, New York’s chief legal officer, Letitia James, on Monday, voiced opposition to individuals she accused of "using the justice system as a weapon for partisan advantage."
"We observe influential figures endeavoring to quell truth and penalize disagreement," James communicated to the audience during a campaign event supporting Zohran Mamdani, a candidate vying for the position of New York City mayor. "We are currently seeing our democracy weaken, and our governmental structure erode."
James faced indictment the previous week on accusations of purported deceit, thus becoming the second political personality within a two-week period to confront legal proceedings following President Donald Trump’s open appeal for the Justice Department to promptly bring charges against his political rivals.
The chief legal officer, who successfully prosecuted a civil case centered around fraudulent activities against Trump during the prior year and spearheads various legal actions challenging his administration’s strategies, was indicted on a federal count of banking fraud and a count concerning the provision of deceptive declarations to a monetary organization.
James received a standing ovation on Monday as she stood at the platform, her fist raised triumphantly.
Attorney General Letitia James, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), raise their hands with New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani during a campaign rally at United Palace on October 13, 2025 in New York City.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
"I will not submit. I will not crumble. I will not yield," she proclaimed to the attendees at the United Palace situated in Washington Heights. "If you target me, you must overcome all of us. Every single one. We stand together in this endeavor."
"I am familiar with the sensation of being attacked merely for executing your responsibilities," James expressed.
Subsequently, James informed the gathering that, throughout the recent days, she had been reflecting upon the fortitude of her forebears, who successfully navigated challenges and reassured the crowd that she would persistently advocate for justice.
James stated that Mamdani, similarly to herself, comprehends the experience of being assailed, being subjected to derogatory epithets, receiving threats, and undergoing torment.
She lauded Mamdani for his emphasis on affordability issues, describing the Democratic nominee for mayor as "among the most audacious voices within the annals of New York politics" prior to introducing him.
"We stand prepared to initiate a new chapter, leaving behind the disheartening, flawed politics of the past," James articulated.
The newly instated U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, declared the allegations against James, who has been instructed to appear in court on Oct. 24 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Attorney General of New York Letitia James speaks onstage during the 39th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 20, 2025, in New York.Roy Rochlin/Getty Images | Leon Neal/Getty Images
"No one is exempt from the law. The outlined allegations in this case constitute intentional, illicit deeds and severe violations of the populace’s confidence," Halligan conveyed in a proclamation on Oct. 9 while announcing the accusations. "The realities and legal aspects of this matter are unambiguous, and we shall persist in adhering to them to guarantee the dispensation of justice."
The prosecution asserts that James misled a banking institution to secure more advantageous stipulations on a loan, precisely by asserting that a certain piece of real estate would function as a personal residence, while, according to the prosecution, it was intended to be leased for monetary gain.
Nevertheless, in the aftermath of a five-month inquiry and discussions with over a dozen individuals, federal investigators unearthed no definitive proof implicating James, according to sources who spoke with ABC News.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
