NORFOLK, Va. — New York Attorney General Letitia James was arraigned on federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution on Friday — she entered a plea of not guilty, CNN reports.
After the hearing, James addressed a crowd of supporters outside the Norfolk Federal Courthouse, telling them she had "no fear today."
"This is not about me... this is about all of us, and about a justice system which has been weaponized... a justice system which has been a tool," said James. "A tool of revenge."
Full speech: NY AG Letitia James tells crowd of supporters outside Norfolk courthouse she 'will not be deterred'
James is seemingly referring to President Donald Trump. While she didn't mention him by name, Trump has pushed federal prosecutors to indict James on charges in connection with a Norfolk home she purchased.
The "revenge" noted by James presumably references a civil lawsuit she filed against Trump in 2022, where she argued Trump and his family artificially inflated their net worth as a means to get better loan rates. The Trump Organization was found liable and was ordered to pay nearly half a billion dollars in fines. The financial penalty was later thrown out, but the finding that Trump committed fraud was upheld.
James was indicted earlier this month in connection with the Norfolk home, located on Peronne Avenue near Lafayette Boulevard. Federal prosecutors say James misrepresented her property as a second residence instead of a rental when applying for a mortgage.
Politics
Read the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James
According to the indictment, James purchased the home for $137,000 and borrowed $109,600 — and because she received more favorable lending terms and a larger seller credit, she allegedly saved $18,933 over the life of the loan.
In a pair of legal filings Thursday, James' legal team took aim at the Trump-appointed prosecutor overseeing her bank fraud case, accusing interim U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan of an improper conversation with a journalist and vowing to seek dismissal of the indictment on the grounds that Halligan was unlawfully named to the job, CBS News reports.
Halligan was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — her term expires after 120 days, pending extension from the district's federal judges, or a formal Senate confirmation. Her predecessor, Erik Siebert, resigned amid concerns he would be forced out for failing to prosecute James.
Watch previous coverage: Virginia prosecutor investigating NY AG Letitia James pushed to resign
The president refuted the claim that Siebert resigned, instead saying he fired the prosecutor because "Nothing is being done."
The next trial date for James is set for Jan. 26, 2026, CNN reports. The judge estimated the trial could take five days, adding that there wasn't much complexity to the case that would result in the timeline being prolonged.
If convicted, James could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each count.
