LETITIA JAMES
Letitia James was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her law degree and began her career as a public defender for The Legal Aid Society, where she established The Urban Network, a coalition of African-American professional organizations aimed at providing scholarships for inner-city youth.
She served as Chief of Staff to a New York State Assembly member before being elected to the New York City Council in 2003, representing Brooklyn's 35th district. During her tenure from 2003 to 2013, she chaired the committee on economic development and sanitation.
In 2013, James was elected as New York City Public Advocate, making her the first woman of color to hold citywide office in New York City. She served in this role until 2018, during which time she worked on consumer complaints involving predatory lending and other unlawful business practices.
In 2019, James made history as the first African American and first woman elected as New York's Attorney General. Known for her tenacity and relentless pursuit of justice, she has taken on major cases, including high-profile investigations into the National Rifle Association, the undercounting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, and sexual harassment charges against Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Despite political pressures, she has remained focused on consumer protections, addressing the opioid crisis, defending civil rights, and investigating financial improprieties.
In 2022, James filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization for lying about the value of his real estate to obtain favorable loans and pay less taxes. A New York judge ruled that Trump had committed fraud by overstating his wealth by hundreds of millions of dollars. After a trial from October 2023 to January 2024, the judge ordered the defendants to disgorge a total of $364 million of ill-gotten gains, though an appeals court in August 2025 voided this penalty while upholding the finding of fraud.
In retaliation for her successful prosecution of his business empire, Trump publicly called for James to be "arrested and punished accordingly" at a rally in January 2024. In October 2025, a federal grand jury in Virginia indicted James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution over a home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia.
The indictment came after a career prosecutor, Erik Siebert, had already determined there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against Letitia. Mr. Siebert was subsequently forced out and replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump personal attorney with no prosecutorial experience.
A federal judge dismissed the case in November 2025, ruling that Halligan was unlawfully appointed as interim U.S. attorney. The Justice Department then attempted to re-indict James, but grand juries declined to bring charges on two separate occasions in December 2025—first in Norfolk, then in Alexandria, Virginia. Undeterred, federal prosecutors have since launched a new investigation into financial transactions between James and her long-time hairdresser.
James’ attorney has characterized the prosecutions as vindictive and politically motivated, stating that "this attack on Ms. James is doomed to fail. The desperation of those working for Trump is palpable and makes indelible the stain already put on this Justice Department." Throughout these attacks, James has remained steadfast, declaring outside the courthouse, "There's no fear today" and emphasizing her faith in the justice system and the rule of law.
Her unwavering courage in the face of relentless federal prosecution attempts has made her a symbol of resistance against the weaponization of the justice system for political retribution. James' legacy continues to be defined by her commitment to protecting the rights of New Yorkers and standing firm against those who would abuse power, regardless of the personal cost.
