New York Attorney General Letitia James appeared in federal court Friday, pleading not guilty to charges that she lied on mortgage documents to secure financial advantages — a case brought by a prosecutor personally selected by President Donald Trump. The courtroom moment marked the first time James has faced a judge over the allegations.
James, dressed in a navy blue suit, stood and declared, “Not guilty, judge, to both counts.” The accusations strike at the heart of the state’s top law enforcement official, who has spent years targeting prominent Republicans, including Trump himself.
The two-count indictment, issued by a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, asserts that James claimed a three-bedroom Norfolk home was a secondary residence in order to gain a more favorable mortgage rate, while in reality it was used as a rental investment property.
Judge Jamar Walker, appointed by President Biden, presided over the brief 35-minute proceeding and scheduled a trial date for Jan. 26, 2026.
The case was brought by Lindsey Halligan, who once served as Trump’s personal attorney and now leads the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Her appointment followed Trump’s direction to pursue those he has identified as political adversaries — figures who have repeatedly challenged him in court and the public arena.
Federal prosecutors had previously resisted moving forward, but the charges reflect what supporters say is long-overdue scrutiny of powerful officials who for years have assumed immunity while pursuing legal crusades of their own.
The courtroom appearance underscores a dramatic turnabout for James, who built her political profile on investigations of Trump and other conservatives. Now, she faces the legal system from the opposite side — accused of benefiting personally from conduct she has routinely condemned.
As the case moves toward trial, it signals that accountability, once demanded by James against others, is now being demanded of her.
This story is developing…
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