Letitia James claims DOJ mortgage fraud case against her is ‘revenge’—she ran AG campaign on platform of going after Trump

“This isn’t about me. It’s about all of us,” James posted on X on Friday alongside a photo of herself. “It’s about a justice system which has been weaponized. A justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge. My faith is strong. I have belief in the justice system and the rule of law.”

James appeared in court on Friday for her arraignment hearing as she faces felony charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution related to a 2020 purchase of a home in Norfolk, Virginia. She pleaded not guilty, and a trial date has been set for January. Her attorney told the court that he plans to file a motion to dismiss the case, arguing the DOJ is engaging in selective prosecution.

Critics, however, have argued that James is engaging in hypocrisy, as she built part of her 2018 campaign for New York attorney general around taking legal action against Trump.

A New York Times report noted that she referred to Trump as an “illegitimate president” and suggested he could face criminal charges for obstruction of justice. James posted on social media at the time, “Nobody is above the law,” and vowed to “hold those in power accountable.”

In her victory speech after winning the attorney general race, James said, “And as the next attorney general of his home state, I will be shining a bright light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings, and every dealing, demanding truthfulness at every turn.”

After promising to go after Trump, James filed a civil lawsuit against his family business and children for misleading lenders and insurers to fraudulently overvalue assets. While she won the lawsuit, a $500 million judgment against Trump was ultimately thrown out for being excessive.