AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
New York Attorney General Letitia James seeks dismissal of her indictment for false statements and bank fraud related to a 2020 mortgage, claiming it’s a vindictive prosecution fueled by Donald Trump’s personal vendetta against her. Her lawyers argue the charges stem from Trump’s calls for her investigation following her probe into his real estate dealings. They also allege selective prosecution, noting similar mortgage issues involving Trump officials haven’t been investigated. Additionally, James aims to quash a DOJ subpoena related to a civil rights investigation into her office’s Trump probe, citing retaliatory motives and an unlawfully appointed US attorney.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said Friday her criminal case should be thrown out because it’s the product of President Donald Trump’s yearslong personal vendetta against her.
Lawyers for James filed a motion to dismiss the two-count indictment related to a 2020 mortgage, saying it is both a vindictive and selective prosecution.
“The Government’s conduct here has offended the very core of due process and equal protection principles in transforming the Department of Justice into the President’s personal agents of revenge,” her lawyers wrote. “The only remedy that will vindicate AG James’ rights is dismissal with prejudice, as the investigation and the Department of Justice are too tainted with unconstitutional motivation to bring these charges fairly against AG James,” they wrote.
James was indicted last month on one count of making false statements to a financial institution and one count of bank fraud. Prosecutors allege she received a better interest rate on a Norfolk, Virginia, home by falsely claiming it was a second home and not an investment property. James has called the charges “baseless” and pleaded not guilty. A person familiar with the house said James’ grandniece occupies the home and is not paying any rent.
James and Trump have a long history of animus. She campaigned for New York attorney general pledging to investigate his real estate businesses. Her office launched an investigation and filed a civil lawsuit against Trump, his eldest sons and the Trump Organization in 2022 alleging they improperly benefited by inflating the value of properties to receive better rates on loans and insurance. Trump testified during the civil trial.
It’s Trump’s reaction to the investigation — his repeated calls that James be investigated and prosecuted — that her lawyers highlight to support their motion.
They also argued it’s an improper selective prosecution because DOJ has not “investigated several of the Presidents’ officials with virtually the same mortgage or residence issues alleged in the indictment.”
James is also seeking to quash a subpoena in a separate Justice Department investigation looking into her office’s possible civil rights violations for the investigation into Trump and the Trump Organization. In that case her lawyers argued the subpoena is retaliatory and was issued improperly because the US attorney for the Northern District of New York, who signed the subpoena, is unlawfully serving in the role. DOJ has defended the appointment and subpoena.
