New York Attorney General Letitia James has formally asked a federal judge to dismiss the mortgage fraud case filed against her, calling the prosecution a politically motivated attack fueled by personal vendetta.
James’ legal team filed the motion on Friday, describing the case as “retaliation” orchestrated by former President Donald Trump, who has publicly branded James as an enemy ever since she launched a high-profile fraud lawsuit against him and his organization.
According to court documents, President Trump’s repeated insults — calling James “crooked,” “scum,” “a monster,” and “criminal” — are clear evidence that this prosecution is rooted in animosity rather than facts.
James is accused of falsifying mortgage documents to secure favorable loan terms when buying a modest home in Norfolk, Virginia, where her family resides. She pleaded not guilty last month and told reporters outside the courthouse that the case was being used as a “tool of revenge” by the Trump administration.
Her defense attorneys argue that the Department of Justice has unfairly singled out James, while overlooking similar irregularities in mortgage filings of other high-profile officials — many of whom are political allies of the former president.
“The only significant difference here is that Attorney General James is a Democrat who has spoken out against the president, while others with comparable issues have not been prosecuted,” the defense filing states.
This case bears resemblance to that of former FBI Director James Comey, another Trump adversary, who is facing charges he calls politically motivated and vindictive.
Adding to the controversy, the charges against James were brought by a newly appointed U.S. attorney in Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide without prosecutorial experience, who replaced the previous prosecutor after investigations stalled.
Following the resignation of that prosecutor, President Trump took to social media urging immediate legal action against James and other political opponents, declaring “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
Letitia James made history as the first woman elected New York State Attorney General in 2018. Since then, she has been a consistent thorn in the side of Donald Trump, notably securing a massive judgment against him and the Trump Organization for fraud related to inflated real estate valuations.
Although an appeals court reduced the fine from over $500 million, it upheld the finding that Trump committed fraud.
As this high-stakes legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how the courts will rule on James’ motion to dismiss — a move that could reshape the landscape of political prosecutions tied to the Trump era.
We will continue to follow this story closely.
Reported by Kathy Moore.
