Justice Dept Opens Investigation Into Letitia James’s Anti-Trump Crusade
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice has launched a formal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, following years of what critics have described as a politically motivated campaign against President Donald Trump and other conservative entities.
According to reports, the acting U.S. Attorney in Albany issued two subpoenas to James’s office this week — one tied to her civil fraud case against President Trump and the other involving her case against the National Rifle Association. The federal probe is focused on whether James violated civil rights protections during the prosecution of both Trump and the NRA.
The investigation marks a significant turning point, as James has made no secret of her hostility toward Trump, vowing during her 2018 campaign to “use every area of the law” to target him, his business, and his family. Legal observers have long questioned whether her efforts have crossed ethical and constitutional lines, especially after she repeatedly referred to Trump as “illegitimate” and promised to “take him down.”
James’s 2022 civil suit accused Trump of inflating the value of his properties to secure loans and insurance benefits. A New York judge sided with James and issued a staggering $300 million penalty — which, with interest, has since grown to more than $500 million. Trump has appealed the ruling and denounced the case as a “witch hunt.” He has argued that James targeted him purely for political reasons, noting that her comments about him date back to before any investigation had begun.
“No one is above the law,” James posted defiantly in May of last year, after the judge’s decision. But now, she may be the one answering to the law. The Justice Department is reportedly examining whether her office violated Trump’s civil rights by using the powers of the state to harass and financially cripple a political opponent.
No one is above the law.
— Tish James (@TishJames) May 30, 2024
James’s legal team lashed out Friday, calling the new federal probe “the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign.” Her attorney, Abbe Lowell, added, “Weaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected official for doing her job is an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation.”
However, critics argue the only dangerous precedent was set by James herself — using the immense power of her office to settle political scores. In addition to her Trump lawsuit, James coordinated with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office on a separate criminal case targeting Trump’s business and played a central role in dismantling the NRA’s leadership.
Last year, her office secured a court victory against longtime NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, banning him from leadership for a decade after a jury found he misused millions in donor funds. The case, which James initiated, was seen by many as an attempt to kneecap one of the most influential pro-Second Amendment organizations in the country.
Now, with James under federal investigation, the tables may be turning.
Few details have been released so far about the scope or timeline of the DOJ’s inquiry, but sources say it could expand beyond the Trump and NRA cases if additional abuses of power are uncovered. The probe also raises new questions about whether other blue-state officials who targeted conservatives under the guise of “accountability” will face similar scrutiny.
For Trump, it’s a long-awaited move. He has frequently pointed to James’s rhetoric and selective prosecutions as proof that the justice system has been weaponized against him. With this investigation now underway, the legal and political spotlight is finally shining back in the other direction.