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Letitia James
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Letitia Ann "Tish" James[1] (born October 18, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician serving since 2019 as the 67th attorney general of New York (NYAG), having won the 2018 election to succeed Barbara Underwood. A member of the Democratic Party, James is the first African American and first woman NYAG.[2][3]

Key Information

Born and raised in Brooklyn, James graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx before obtaining her Juris Doctor degree at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She worked as a public defender, then on staff in the New York State Assembly, and later as a New York State Assistant Attorney General in the Brooklyn regional office. James served as a member of the New York City Council from 2004 to 2013. She represented the 35th district, which includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, parts of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, and Bedford–Stuyvesant. James chaired the committees on economic development and sanitation and served on several others. From 2013 to 2018, she was the New York City Public Advocate, making her the first African American woman to be elected to and hold citywide office in New York City.[4]

James' office filed a civil suit against Donald Trump that resulted in penalties and a fine of more than four hundred million dollars. A divided appeals court upheld Trump's liability but voided the penalty as excessive. Both sides appealed to the New York Court of Appeals. James was briefly a candidate in the 2022 New York gubernatorial election, but suspended her campaign in December 2021, opting to instead run for reelection as Attorney General.

In October 2025, James was federally indicted on one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution.[5][6] James pled not guilty to the charges.[7] Her charges were dismissed by a federal judge on November 24, 2025.[8]

Early life and education

[edit]

Letitia Ann James was born on October 18, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York.[9][10][11] She is one of eight children born to Nellie James (b. 1919, Martinsville, Virginia)[12] and Robert James.[13] She attended New York City public schools. Raised in Park Slope, Brooklyn, she attended Fort Hamilton High School in nearby Bay Ridge.[14] She received her Bachelor of Arts from the City University of New York's Lehman College in 1981, majoring in liberal arts with an emphasis in social work.[15][14]

James received her Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1987,[16] and was admitted to practice law in New York State in 1989.[17][18]

James earned a Master of Public Administration degree in 2013 from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), located in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan.[19] She later served as Columbia University's William S. Beinecke Visiting Professor of Public Policy in the Faculty of International and Public Affairs.[20]

Career

[edit]

James served as a public defender for the Legal Aid Society[21] and established the Urban Network, a coalition of African-American professional organizations aimed at providing scholarships for inner city youth.[22][23]

She served on former New York Governor Mario Cuomo's Task Force on Diversity in the Judiciary. She served as counsel for Albert Vann, Chief of Staff for Roger L. Green in the New York State Assembly, and in the administration of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. She was appointed the first Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Brooklyn regional office in 1999. While working in that position, James worked in many capacities but notably focused on consumer complaints involving predatory lending and other unlawful business practices.[21]

2001 and 2003 city council races

[edit]

James's first run for the 35th Council district was in November 2001. In a close race, James received 42% of the vote on the Working Families Party line but lost to James E. Davis, a Democrat. In July 2003, just months before the next election, Davis was assassinated by Othniel Askew, a former political rival. Following Davis's death, his brother Geoffrey ran for his vacant council seat on the Democratic Party ticket, but on election day, November 4, 2003, Geoffrey A. Davis lost by a large margin to James as the Working Families Party nominee.[24] In that 2003 race, James officially became a member of the Working Families Party, and was the first citywide office-holder to run solely on the WFP line.[25][26][27]

City council tenure

[edit]
James speaking at City Hall, 2008

James is the first member of the Working Families Party to win office in New York State, and the first third-party member to be elected to the city council since 1977.[28] She has since changed back to the Democratic party.[25] She again won the Working Families and the Democratic parties' nominations by a large margin over Samuel Eric Blackwell, an urban planner at Long Island University and pro-stadium advocate. She was re-elected on the Democratic line on November 8, 2005, with 88.11% of the vote, compared to 6.80% for Republican Anthony Herbert, and 5.08% for Independence Party candidate Charles B. Billups.[29]

On October 10, 2006, there was a devastating fire at the Broken Angel House, an architectural icon in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. The fire attracted attention from the New York City Department of Buildings, which resulted in citations being issued for numerous building code violations. James represented Broken Angel's owner, Arthur Wood, pro bono in his negotiations to keep his home. The agency decided to allow Wood to re-occupy Broken Angel provided the upper levels were taken down and the central stairwell reconstructed.[30]

James in the New York City Council in 2009

She was the first to question cost overruns and irregularities in the subcontracting work of the new CityTime payroll system much touted by Bloomberg which eventually led to several indictments, Bloomberg asking a tech giant for $600 million back, and two consultants fleeing the country in 2011.[31][32]

James originally advocated for the demolition of the Second Empire houses on Admiral's Row in order to build a parking lot for a proposed supermarket to serve residents in nearby housing developments, but later supported preserving some of the historic housing.[33] In 2008, James, with Bill de Blasio, advocated against Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempts to seek a third term without a voter referendum.[34]

James won the Democratic primary in September 2009 against her opponents, community organizer Delia Hunley-Adossa,[35] who received more than $200,000 from Forest City Ratner[36] and Medhanie Estiphanos, a financial consultant.[36] James went on to win re-election for a second term.

In May 2013, with a group that included construction unions, community groups and other elected officials, she was a part of an Article 78 lawsuit against the Bloomberg administration and Acadia Realty Trust seeking the shut-down of the City Point real estate project and a reassessment of its environmental impact.[37]

In June 2016, James attempted to pressure six financial institutions, including BB&T, Berkshire Bank, Citizens Financial Group, People's United Bank, Regions Financial Corporation and TD Bank, into ending its practice of providing financial services to gun manufacturers.[38] BB&T was specifically requested to drop the accounts of SIG Sauer of New Hampshire, but denied the request.[39]

Committee assignments

[edit]
  • Committee on Economic Development (chair)
  • Committee on Sanitation (chair)
  • Committee on Parks & Recreation
  • Committee on Small Business
  • Committee on Technology in Government
  • Committee on Veteran Affairs
  • Committee on Women's Issues[17][40]

Public Advocate

[edit]
Main article: 2013 New York City Public Advocate election
James at the 2018 NYC March For Our Lives rally

In 2013, James ran for New York City Public Advocate and received 36% of the vote in the first Democratic primary, under the 40% threshold that would have avoided a runoff election.[41] James won the runoff election on October 1, 2013, against Daniel Squadron, 59.4%–40.6%, becoming the party's nominee for the city's elected watchdog position in November.[42]

In the 2013 election campaign for Public Advocate, James was endorsed by many of the city's important labor unions, NOW, Planned Parenthood, Democracy for NYC, League of Conservation Voters, Amsterdam News and El Diario.[43] On October 1, 2013, James achieved a Democratic primary win in spite of her campaign fundraising trailing Daniel Squadron's and Reshma Saujani,[44] to become the Democratic Party's nominee for New York City's elected watchdog position. She was endorsed by third-place finisher Saujani in September[45] James won the Democratic runoff election.[41] Without a Republican opponent, she won the general election with over 83% of the vote.[46]

In 2017, James won the Democratic primary for her position with 77% of the vote, over closest competitor David Eisenbach's 23%.[47]

Attorney general of New York (2019–present)

[edit]

2018 election

[edit]
Main article: 2018 New York Attorney General election

In May 2018, James, who initially planned to run for Mayor of New York City in 2021,[48] declared her candidacy for Attorney General of New York after Eric Schneiderman resigned. She won the Democratic primary on September 13, 2018, with 40.6% of the vote; she defeated Zephyr Teachout (31%) and two other candidates.[49][50] On November 6, 2018, she was elected Attorney General, defeating Republican Keith Wofford.[51] She became the first woman and African American to be elected as attorney general in New York and serve in that role.[51] During her campaign, James vowed to pursue Donald Trump, who she said was an "illegitimate president" and an "embarrassment."[52]

Tenure

[edit]
James marching in June 2019 at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019

James was sworn in as attorney general on January 1, 2019, succeeding Barbara Underwood, who was first appointed after the resignation of Eric Schneiderman.[53]

Suit against All Faiths Cemetery

[edit]

In September 2019, James filed suit against the officials of All Faiths Cemetery in Queens, alleging financial misconduct.[54]

State civil suit against the NRA

[edit]

In August 2020, James filed a civil lawsuit in the New York Court of Appeals against the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), accusing the organization of corruption and financial misconduct, and calling for its dissolution.[55][56] The NRA filed a countersuit against James, citing statements she made during her 2018 campaign.[57] In February 2024, a lawsuit brought by the New York Attorney General’s Office under James found that the NRA mismanaged charitable funds when it failed to stop top executives, including CEO Wayne LaPierre, from diverting millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts and other questionable expenditures. A jury found that LaPierre should pay the gun rights group $4.3 million in damages for mismanagement and misspending of charitable funds, having violated his fiduciary duties from 2014 to 2022. The panel also found the NRA’s former CFO Wilson Phillips should pay back $2 million for breaching his fiduciary duties as an executive.[58]

Investigation into state COVID-19 response

[edit]

In early March 2020, the attorney general's office began to preliminarily "investigate allegations of COVID-19-related neglect of residents in nursing homes."[59] The office solicited and subsequently received 953 complaints from patients' families regarding neglect of patients through November 16. The probe released its first report on both the nursing homes and the state Department of Health (DOH) on January 28, 2021, where it concluded that the department's public data under-counted nursing home deaths by up to 50 percent.[60] The methodology of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) was to compare deaths from COVID reported to the DOH and such deaths reported to OAG. The OAG press release makes no mention of medical analysis of the cases.[60] James said investigations into 20 separate nursing homes "whose reported conduct during the first wave of the pandemic presented particular concern" would continue for the foreseeable future.[60] The report was heralded by some in Albany as a "declaration of independence" from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo after a two-year alliance in opposition to President Donald Trump.[61]

Three weeks after the report, the Albany Times-Union revealed an ongoing joint investigation by the FBI and the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, examining how Governor Cuomo's coronavirus task force played a role in nursing homes' COVID-19 response.[62] On March 18, 2021, The City found that the FBI's scope included a last-minute addition to the state's 2020 budget that provided greater immunity to long-term care organizations.[63] The head of the Greater New York Hospital Association said in an August 2020 New York State Senate hearing that the lobbying group had provided a "draft" of "some ideas to be included" to the governor's office.[64]

Report on Andrew Cuomo sexual harassment

[edit]
Further information: Andrew Cuomo sexual harassment allegations

On August 3, 2021, James's office released a report finding that Cuomo engaged in multiple acts of sexual harassment.[65]

2022 Democratic primary for governor

[edit]

On October 29, 2021, James stated her intention to run for the office of Governor of New York in the 2022 Democratic primary[66][67] but withdrew from the race in December, after consistently polling behind incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul, with James instead choosing to seek reelection as Attorney General.[68]

2022 election

[edit]
Main article: 2022 New York Attorney General election

After James launched her reelection bid, all previous Democratic candidates withdrew their candidacies and endorsed her.[69][70][71][72][73] On November 8, 2022, James was reelected Attorney General, defeating Republican Michael Henry in the general election.

NFL investigation

[edit]

On May 4, 2023, James and her California counterpart attorney general Rob Bonta announced they would jointly investigate the National Football League over employment practices at its offices in New York City and Los Angeles, citing a report by The New York Times detailing complaints of harassment and discrimination made by former female staffers.[74][needs update]

2024 Trump lawsuit in New York

[edit]
Main article: New York civil investigation of The Trump Organization

In 2022, in her capacity as New York Attorney General, James filed a civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization and worked alongside the Manhattan district attorney's office in its criminal investigation of the organization.[75] Trump argued that previous comments by James, promising to "challenge this illegitimate president" during her campaign for attorney general, prove that she has a political vendetta against him.[76][77] On February 16, 2024, the fraud case against the former president, Donald Trump, proved successful. Judge Arthur Engoron's 92-page ruling barred Trump from operating any business in New York for three years and fined him more than $355 million.[78][79] In August 2025, the appeals court upheld Trump's liability but voided the penalty as excessive.[80] James plans to appeal the voiding of the penalty.[81]

Supporting Mamdani in the 2025 New York mayoral election

[edit]

Letitia James supported Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front-runner for mayor of New York City, and they presented themselves as a united front against President Trump.[82][83]

Security clearance revocation

[edit]

In February 2025, President Trump announced the revocation of James's security clearance, along with several other officials. Trump stated that the decision was made because they were individuals he "didn't respect" and believed had "come very close" to breaking the law.[84] James's office dismissed the action, stating it had no impact on her work. Some viewed the revocation as an administrative decision, while others suggested it was politically motivated.[85] James herself mocked Trump's action in the New York Times, saying "What security clearance?"[85]

Department of Justice lawsuit

[edit]

On February 12, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice was filing a civil lawsuit against James, as well as other officials in the state such as Kathy Hochul, over their handling of immigration issues.[86]

2025 indictment

[edit]
Main article: Prosecution of Letitia James

In April 2025, Bill Pulte, President Donald Trump's pick to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), referred James to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) for possible criminal prosecution, alleging that she had misrepresented facts in three separate instances in order to gain government assistance and more favorable loan terms,[87] by having misrepresented an investment property as her primary residence; by having misrepresented the number of units in an investment property; and by having misrepresented her father as her husband.[87][88][89][90] James denied the allegations, calling them baseless retaliation by President Trump.[87] At the time, Trump had for an extended period called for criminal procedures against James, as well as other political opponents.[91][92]

In May 2025, the FBI opened a formal criminal probe into the mortgage fraud claims. In response to the accusation that James had improperly claimed a property as her primary residence, her lawyer stated that "she made a mistake on one line [that] had no significance", and presented alternative property deeds containing the correct information, accusing prosecutors of cherry picking information.[93]

In early August, the DOJ escalated its probe, opening a civil rights investigation into her office to examine whether it had violated Trump's civil rights during its New York business fraud lawsuit against the Trump Organization, as well as appointing a special prosecutor to examine her real estate transactions.[94] Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Ed Martin, a Stop the Steal organizer who had called for investigations of Trump foes just to shame them, as special prosecutor.[94][95] Martin made a written request for her resignation, posed for a photograph in front of her home, and declared he intended to "stick the landing". Kara Scannell wrote for CNN that this "fall[s] outside the norms of prosecutorial conduct".[95]

In September, federal prosecutors in Virginia said they could not find evidence to bring charges. Trump administration officials then informed Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, that they intended to fire him. Siebert immediately resigned.[96][97] In October, Elizabeth Yusi, a top prosecutor for the same district, reportedly planned to inform Lindsey Halligan, the district's interim U.S. attorney, that she likewise found no probable cause to seek charges of mortgage fraud.[98][99] Halligan pursued charges against James, in which she reportedly did not coordinate with the Department of Justice.[100] After being presented evidence by the federal government, a federal grand jury determined probable cause and James was indicted on October 9 in Virginia on one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution.[5][101][6] The case has been assigned to Judge Jamar Walker.[102] James pleaded not guilty in court on October 24.[7]

On November 24, federal judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the charges, finding that Halligan (who was the only signatory on the indictment) had been unlawfully appointed and thus lacked the authority to bring the charges.[103]

Personal life

[edit]

James lives in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn and is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church.[104] She has never married.[105]

At a May 2022 rally, James stated that she supported abortion rights, and had received an abortion early in her tenure as a member of the New York City Council. James said, "I was just elected and I was faced with the decision of whether to have an abortion or not, and I chose to have an abortion. I walked proudly into Planned Parenthood, and I make no apologies to anyone."[106]

Electoral history

[edit]

New York City Council

[edit]
2001 New York City Council's 35th district Democratic primary[107]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Davis 6,691 37.37%
Democratic Letitia James 5,746 32.09%
Democratic Peter Williams 1,823 10.18%
Democratic Abraham E. Wasserman 1,754 9.80%
Democratic William J. Saunders 875 4.89%
Democratic Sidique Wai 556 3.10%
Democratic Robert A. Hunter 556 3.10%
Total votes 17,907 100%
2001 New York City Council's 35th district general election[108]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Davis 13,129 55.64%
Working Families Letitia James 9,762 41.37%
Independence Sidique Wai 497 2.11%
Liberal Sidique Wai 210 0.89%
Total Sidique Wai 707 3.00%
Total votes 23,598 100%
Democratic hold
2003 New York City Council's 35th district general election[109]
Party Candidate Votes %
Working Families Letitia James 14,166 76.70%
Democratic Geoffrey A. Davis 3,077 16.66%
Independence Geoffrey A. Davis 497 1.71%
Total Geoffrey A. Davis 3,392 18.36%
Republican Anthony Herbert 549 2.97%
Conservative Abraham E. Wasserman 363 1.97%
Total votes 18,470 100%
Working Families gain from Democratic
2005 New York City Council's 35th district Democratic primary[110]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James (incumbent) 8,667 84.92%
Democratic Samuel Eric Blackwell 1,539 15.08%
Total votes 10,206 100%
2005 New York City Council's 35th district general election[111]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 16,447 77.61%
Working Families Letitia James 2,275 10.74%
Total Letitia James (incumbent) 18,722 88.35%
Republican Anthony Herbert 1,309 6.18%
Conservative Anthony Herbert 181 0.85%
Total Anthony Herbert 1,490 7.03%
Independence Charles B. Billups 979 4.62%
Total votes 21,191 100%
Democratic gain from Working Families
2009 New York City Council's 35th district Democratic primary[112]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James (incumbent) 8,027 81.15%
Democratic Delia M. Hunley-Adossa 1,539 13.92%
Democratic Medhanie Estiphanos 488 4.93%
Total votes 9,893 100%
2009 New York City Council's 35th district general election[113]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James (incumbent) 19,873 92.29%
Republican Stuart A. Balberg 1,355 6.29%
Conservative Stuart A. Balberg 306 1.42%
Total Stuart A. Balberg 1,661 7.71%
Total votes 21,534 100%
Democratic hold

New York City Public Advocate

[edit]
2013 New York City Public Advocate Democratic primary[114]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 191,347 36.11%
Democratic Daniel Squadron 178,151 33.62%
Democratic Reshma Saujani 76,983 14.53%
Democratic Cathy Guerriero 69,025 13.03%
Democratic Sidique Wai 14,409 2.72%
Total votes 529,915 100%
2013 New York City Public Advocate Democratic primary runoff[115]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 119,604 59.02%
Democratic Daniel Squadron 83,043 40.98%
Total votes 202,647 100%
2013 New York City Public Advocate general election[116]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 761,058 77.87%
Working Families Letitia James 53,821 5.51%
Total Letitia James 814,879 83.37%
Conservative Robert Maresca 119,768 12.25%
Green James Lane 16,974 1.74%
Libertarian Alex Merced 10,419 1.07%
Socialist Workers Deborah O. Liatos 5,114 0.52%
War Veterans Irene Estrada 4,216 0.43%
Students First Mollina G. Fabricant 2,391 0.24%
Freedom Party Michael K. Lloyd 1,799 0.18
Total votes 975,560 100%
Democratic hold
2017 New York City Public Advocate Democratic primary[117]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James (incumbent) 300,301 76.50%
Democratic David Eisenbach 92,246 23.50%
Total votes 392,547 100%
2017 New York City Public Advocate general election[118]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 186,916 73.10%
Working Families Letitia James 16,586 6.49%
Total Letitia James (incumbent) 203,502 79.58%
Republican Juan Carlos Polanco 31,206 12.20%
Reform Juan Carlos Polanco 1,704 0.67%
Stop De Blasio Juan Carlos Polanco 988 0.39%
Total Juan Carlos Polanco 33,898 13.26%
Conservative Michael A. O'Reilly 9,868 3.86%
Green James C. Lane 6,160 2.41%
Libertarian Devin Balkin 2,276 0.89%
Total votes 255,704 100%
Democratic hold

New York Attorney General

[edit]
2018 New York Attorney General Democratic primary[119]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 608,308 38.53%
Democratic Zephyr Teachout 468,083 29.65%
Democratic Sean Patrick Maloney 379,099 24.02%
Democratic Leecia Eve 52,367 3.32%
Total votes 1,578,588 100%
2018 New York Attorney General general election[120]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 3,497,213 58.38%
Working Families Letitia James 152,350 2.54%
Independence Letitia James 89,676 1.50%
Total Letitia James 3,739,239 62.42%
Republican Keith Wofford 1,851,510 30.91%
Conservative Keith Wofford 257,090 4.29%
Total Keith Wofford 2,108,600 35.20%
Green Michael Sussman 72,512 1.21%
Libertarian Christopher Garvey 43,767 0.73
Reform Nancy Sliwa 26,441 0.44%
Total votes 5,990,559 100%
Democratic hold
2022 New York Attorney General general election[121]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Letitia James 2,769,312 49.29%
Working Families Letitia James 280,150 4.99%
Total Letitia James (incumbent) 3,049,462 54.28%
Republican Michael Henry 2,262,323 40.27%
Conservative Michael Henry 306,187 5.45%
Total Michael Henry 2,568,510 45.72%
Total votes 5,617,972 100%
Democratic hold

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Letitia James

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Letitia “Tish” James (born October 18, 1958) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician serving as the 67th Attorney General of New York since 2019, the first woman elected to the office and the first woman of color to hold statewide office in the state. A Brooklyn native and graduate of Lehman College and Howard University School of Law, James began her legal career as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society before heading the Brooklyn regional office of the New York Attorney General and entering elected office as a New York City Council member for the 35th District from 2004 to 2013. She then served as New York City Public Advocate from 2013 to 2018, the first African-American woman elected to citywide office in the city, where she advocated for tenant protections and passed legislation including a ban on salary history inquiries in hiring. As Attorney General, James has secured over $7.5 billion from corporate lawbreakers, including $2.5 billion from opioid manufacturers, dismantled gun and drug trafficking networks, and pursued actions against predatory landlords and environmental polluters. Her office has also initiated prominent civil enforcement cases against political figures, notably a 2023 fraud lawsuit against the Trump Organization leading to a 2024 judgment, though such actions have sparked debates over the politicization of the role given her pre-election pledges to target Donald Trump. In a notable recent development, James was indicted on October 10, 2025, on federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements related to a 2020 mortgage application for a Virginia property, to which she pleaded not guilty on October 24, 2025.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Letitia James was born on October 18, 1958, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in a working-class family as one of eight children born to Robert James, a maintenance worker, and Nellie James, who worked as a cleaner and in customer service roles. Her mother, Nellie James, originated from Martinsville, Virginia, though the family resided in Brooklyn during James's upbringing. Limited public details exist on her siblings or specific family dynamics from childhood, but James has referenced observing her brother's arrest as a teenager, which influenced her early views on justice. The family's circumstances reflected modest means typical of many Brooklyn households in the mid-20th century, with parents in manual and service occupations.

Academic and early professional influences

James attended Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, where she developed an early interest in public service amid the civil rights era's activism, influenced by her family's political engagement. She then enrolled at Lehman College, part of the City University of New York, graduating in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Her choice of Lehman, despite residing in Brooklyn, reflected a deliberate pursuit of accessible higher education within the CUNY system, which emphasized practical social sciences; the psychology major equipped her with insights into human behavior and community dynamics that later informed her legal advocacy. Pursuing law, James attended Howard University School of Law, an historically Black institution renowned for fostering civil rights leaders and public interest lawyers, earning her Juris Doctor in 1987. Her time at Howard deepened her commitment to public service, providing a rigorous legal foundation centered on justice for marginalized communities and inspiring her focus on systemic inequities. Following graduation, James launched her professional career as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society in New York, representing indigent clients in criminal cases and gaining firsthand exposure to the challenges of urban poverty and criminal justice disparities. This role honed her skills in advocacy and litigation while reinforcing her dedication to protecting vulnerable populations, setting the stage for subsequent work in community organizing, including founding the Urban Network—a coalition advancing economic development for minority groups in underserved areas. These early experiences emphasized hands-on defense against institutional barriers, shaping her trajectory toward roles blending law with public policy reform.

Pre-political career

James began her legal career after earning her J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 1987, initially serving as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society in New York City, where she represented indigent clients in criminal cases. In this role, she focused on defending low-income individuals, gaining experience in criminal defense amid New York City's high caseloads during the late 1980s and early 1990s crack epidemic era. Subsequently, James held public service positions in state government, including as chief of staff to New York State Assemblymember Roger L. Green and counsel on Governor Mario Cuomo's Task Force on Diversity in the Judiciary, where she advocated for greater minority representation on the bench. She also worked on staff for the New York State Assembly, contributing to legislative efforts on issues affecting urban communities. During this period, James founded the Urban Network, a coalition of African American professional organizations aimed at promoting minority hiring in New York City government agencies and addressing economic disparities. In 1999, Republican Governor George Pataki appointed James as Assistant Attorney General and head of the Brooklyn Regional Office of the New York State Attorney General, a position she held until entering elective office. In this capacity, she oversaw investigations into consumer fraud, resolved thousands of complaints against businesses, and pursued enforcement actions on issues like predatory lending and unsafe housing in Brooklyn, handling a regional office that managed hundreds of cases annually. Her work emphasized civil enforcement and public protection, building a record of litigating against corporate misconduct without partisan alignment, as evidenced by her appointment across party lines.

Local political offices

New York City Council campaigns and tenure

Letitia James first sought election to the New York City Council representing the 35th District in the 2001 Democratic primary, but lost to incumbent James E. Davis. Following Davis's assassination on July 23, 2003, James entered the November 4, 2003, general election for the seat on the Working Families Party line, defeating Geoffrey Davis, the brother of the slain councilman. At the time, James was enrolled in the Working Families Party and served as chief of staff to New York State Assemblyman Roger Green. The 35th District encompasses Brooklyn neighborhoods including Clinton Hill and Fort Greene. James secured reelection in the 2005 Democratic primary and general election, followed by another victory in 2009. No significant primary challengers emerged in these races, reflecting her established position in the district amid broader competitiveness in 2009 council elections. She served from 2004 until term limits ended her tenure in 2013. During her council tenure, James chaired the Contracts Committee, focusing on enhancing opportunities for small businesses in city contracting. She also led the Economic Development and Sanitation Committees. Key legislation included the Safe Housing Act of 2007, which mandated landlords of the city's most substandard buildings to remedy hazardous conditions, with the measure upheld against legal challenges in 2009. James sponsored the bill establishing New York City's first legislatively created Charter Revision Commission. Her efforts emphasized housing preservation, affordable housing amid gentrification pressures, and community advocacy in Brooklyn.

New York City Public Advocate

Letitia James was elected New York City Public Advocate on November 5, 2013, after winning a Democratic primary runoff against Michael Blake by 59% to 41%, and assumed office on January 1, 2014, succeeding Bill de Blasio who had become mayor. Her tenure lasted until December 31, 2018, when she transitioned to the New York State Attorney General position. James became the first woman of color elected to citywide office in New York City history. In this role, she functioned as an ombudsman, investigating citizen complaints against municipal agencies, advocating for vulnerable populations, and reviewing proposed city legislation before council votes. James's office introduced over 40 pieces of legislation during her term, claiming to have enacted more bills than all prior public advocates combined, according to her official biography. Notable measures included a requirement for the New York Police Department to document demographic details of individuals subjected to stop-and-frisk encounters, aimed at enhancing transparency in policing practices. She also sponsored and helped pass a 2017 law prohibiting employers from asking job applicants about prior salary history, intended to reduce gender wage disparities by decoupling offers from historical pay data. In November 2015, James introduced the Crosswalk Bill, which extended pedestrians' right-of-way protection through the flashing "don't walk" phase at intersections; the New York City Council approved this measure in 2017 as part of broader Vision Zero efforts to cut traffic fatalities. A signature initiative was the annual Worst Landlords Watchlist, first published under James in 2014, which ranked the city's 100 most violation-prone property owners and managers based on data from housing, health, and fire agencies. The list highlighted systemic issues in rental housing, such as unaddressed violations and emergency repair failures; for 2016, it identified 100 landlords overseeing buildings with over 25,000 open violations, while the 2017 edition spotlighted repeat offender Jonathan Cohen of Silvershore Properties as number one. In December 2018, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) topped the list for the first time, with 1,123 buildings cited for 340,000 violations, prompting James to tour affected sites and call for federal intervention. This tool empowered tenants by publicizing data and pressuring agencies for enforcement, though critics noted it relied on existing violation records without new prosecutorial powers. James advocated for police accountability, compiling reports on agency practices and pushing reforms amid post-Floyd scrutiny, though specific legislative wins in this area built on council tenure efforts. Early in her term, she successfully lobbied Mayor de Blasio's administration in April 2014 to halt plans privatizing public dialysis services, preserving access for low-income patients. In March 2017, she proposed using city procurement leverage to oppose federal border wall funding, framing it as protection for immigrant communities. These actions positioned her office as a check on executive decisions, though effectiveness varied, with some initiatives facing implementation delays due to mayoral vetoes or council modifications.

Attorney General election and early tenure

2018 campaign and election

Letitia James announced her candidacy for New York Attorney General on May 31, 2018, shortly after incumbent Eric Schneiderman resigned amid allegations of physical abuse against multiple women. As New York City Public Advocate, James positioned herself as a progressive fighter against corruption, emphasizing her intent to use the office to investigate President Donald Trump and his business dealings, stating she would join other attorneys general in suing the federal government over policies she deemed harmful to New Yorkers. Her platform also highlighted protections against consumer fraud, predatory lending, and environmental violations, drawing on her prior experience suing landlords and polluters during her city council tenure. In the Democratic primary on September 13, 2018, James prevailed in a four-way contest, capturing 40.34% of the vote with 608,308 ballots cast in her favor. She outperformed Zephyr Teachout (31.04%, 468,083 votes), Sean Patrick Maloney (22.09%), and Leecia R. Eve (6.52%), securing endorsements from Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins despite progressive critiques of her alignment with Cuomo's administration. James's victory marked her as the first Black woman to win a major-party statewide nomination in New York, bolstered by strong turnout in New York City and union support. James campaigned on a fusion ticket with Democratic, Working Families, and Independence Party lines, centering her general election bid on resistance to the Trump administration, including vows to probe Trump's "illegitimate" presidency and potential conflicts of interest. On November 6, 2018, she defeated Republican nominee Keith Wofford—a corporate lawyer and former Giuliani aide—along with minor-party candidates Michael Sussman (Green), Christopher B. Garvey (Libertarian), and Nancy B. Sliwa (Reform), in a Democratic statewide sweep amid high turnout favoring Governor Cuomo's re-election. James received over 4.4 million votes, achieving approximately 63% of the total, to become the first woman, first African American, and first openly LGBTQ person elected to the office. Her win reflected New York's heavily Democratic electorate, where opposition to Trump amplified her anti-corruption messaging.

Initial priorities and campaign commitments

James campaigned for New York Attorney General in 2018 on a platform emphasizing accountability for powerful entities, including a explicit pledge to investigate and sue then-President Donald Trump and his business interests. She promised to "shine a bright light into every dark corner" of Trump's operations, targeting potential financial improprieties, and to pursue closure of the "double jeopardy loophole" that might limit state-level prosecutions overlapping with federal ones. This anti-Trump stance, which included labeling him an "illegitimate president" and a "con man," formed a core element of her messaging, distinguishing her in the Democratic primary against rivals like Zephyr Teachout. Beyond Trump, James committed to combating public corruption independently of Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration, advocating for reforms to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) and legislation granting the Attorney General original jurisdiction to prosecute corruption without gubernatorial approval or referrals. She also prioritized criminal justice reforms, including codifying and expanding the special prosecutor role for deaths in police custody, establishing a commission on prosecutor misconduct, repealing Civil Rights Law Section 50-a to unseal police disciplinary records, enacting discovery reforms, mandating statewide police body cameras, and eliminating cash bail. In areas of consumer and worker protection, James pledged to create a wage discrimination task force, sue companies fostering cultures of abuse, form an arbitration review team for workers restricted from lawsuits, and target wage theft, worker misclassification, non-disclosure agreements, and non-compete clauses. On reproductive rights, she vowed to safeguard abortion clinic access, investigate pregnancy crisis centers for deceptive practices, and probe workplace discrimination against pregnant employees, stating that "reproductive health care is a fundamental right" and a top priority. Additional commitments included environmental enforcement, civil rights advancements, and scrutiny of the National Rifle Association's charitable status alongside gun trafficking probes. As AG-elect in late 2018, James reiterated wide-ranging initial priorities, including aggressive probes into Trump's finances and every available legal avenue against him, while signaling continuity with her campaign's focus on corruption and consumer safeguards.

Key actions as Attorney General

Investigations into state officials and public health

In January 2021, Letitia James's office released a report on its investigation into New York nursing homes' handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompted by discrepancies in state-reported death figures and policy decisions under Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration. The probe involved subpoenas to nursing home operators and review of over 40,000 death certificates, revealing that the state Department of Health had undercounted resident deaths by approximately 50 percent, from 6,498 to about 13,000 when including fatalities occurring shortly after transfers to hospitals. This undercount stemmed from excluding hospital deaths in official tallies, despite a March 25, 2020, state directive mandating nursing homes to readmit or accept COVID-19 patients from hospitals without requiring prior negative tests or isolation protocols. The report highlighted systemic data gaps and lack of transparency in the Cuomo administration's reporting, noting that the directive likely increased transmission risks in facilities already strained by the virus, though James emphasized that inadequate testing and PPE shortages were broader contributors rather than the policy alone being decisive. It criticized the state's vital statistics tracking and urged legislative reforms for better oversight, but stopped short of recommending criminal charges, focusing instead on policy failures that exacerbated one of the nation's highest per capita nursing home death rates during the early pandemic waves. The findings fueled ongoing scrutiny of Cuomo's public health strategies, including later federal inquiries into potential falsification of records. Separately, James's office investigated allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct by Cuomo and senior aides, launching an independent probe in March 2021 following initial claims from former aide Lindsey Boylan in December 2020. The August 3, 2021, report, based on interviews with over 170 witnesses and review of thousands of documents, substantiated that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women, including eight state employees, through unwanted touching, kisses, and inappropriate comments, while fostering a "toxic" workplace with retaliation against critics. It detailed specific incidents, such as groping allegations from executive assistants, and found top officials like Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa enabled a culture of fear and cover-ups. The investigation concluded that Cuomo violated federal and state laws, creating a hostile work environment for female subordinates, though it noted no criminal referrals were made as statutes of limitations had expired for some claims. Cuomo rejected the findings as politically motivated, asserting witness coaching and selective evidence, but announced his resignation on August 10, 2021, amid impeachment threats. In 2022, Cuomo filed an ethics complaint challenging the probe's independence, alleging bias in James's office, though no formal invalidation followed. These efforts marked James's most prominent scrutiny of executive branch officials, contrasting with limited public actions against other state figures beyond routine corruption cases, such as the 2025 indictment of a former tax department auditor for bribery tied to a strip club tax scheme.

Civil suits against corporations and organizations

As New York Attorney General, Letitia James has pursued multiple civil lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies involved in the opioid crisis, securing settlements exceeding $3 billion from manufacturers, distributors, and marketers. In 2019, her office filed suit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging the company deceptively marketed opioids as safe and effective while downplaying addiction risks, resulting in a $230 million settlement in June 2021 that averted a trial and allocated funds for abatement programs. Additional settlements include $523 million from a major distributor in 2022, raising total recoveries for opioid-related actions, and $350 million from Publicis Health in February 2024 for promoting Purdue Pharma's OxyContin through misleading advertising tactics. These actions invoked consumer protection and public nuisance statutes, directing funds toward treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts amid New York's overdose epidemic. James has also targeted the firearms industry through public nuisance claims, suing ten major gun distributors in June 2022 for allegedly flooding New York with handguns despite known risks of diversion to criminals and straw purchasers, in violation of state and federal laws. The suit sought injunctions to reform tracking, reporting, and sales practices, framing unchecked distribution as a statewide hazard contributing to gun violence. Separately, in June 2022, her office joined New York City in suing ghost gun kit sellers and manufacturers under a new state law, alleging their unserialized parts kits enabled proliferation of untraceable firearms, with claims of public nuisance and deceptive marketing; settlements began emerging by late 2022 requiring enhanced compliance measures. In the technology and finance sectors, James initiated a lawsuit in August 2025 against Early Warning Services, the operator of the Zelle peer-to-peer payment app owned by major banks including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, accusing it of facilitating widespread scams through inadequate fraud safeguards and rapid transaction processing that prioritized speed over security. The complaint, filed under consumer protection laws, detailed over 5,000 reported Zelle fraud incidents in New York since 2017 totaling millions in losses, seeking restitution and operational reforms. Earlier actions included suits against social media platforms, such as a 2023 case against Meta alleging Instagram's design exploited young users' vulnerabilities to foster addiction and mental health harms through addictive features and inadequate protections. These suits reflect a pattern of leveraging New York's Martin Act and public nuisance doctrines to address perceived corporate failures in risk management, with outcomes including monetary penalties, injunctive relief, and policy changes, though critics have questioned the novel application of nuisance law to industry-wide practices.

High-profile litigation against political figures

Lawsuit against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization

In September 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, his adult children Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, the Trump Organization, and several executives, alleging violations of Executive Law § 63(12), which prohibits persistent fraud or illegality in business conduct. The suit stemmed from a multi-year investigation launched by James's office in 2019 into the Trump Organization's financial practices, following her 2018 campaign pledge to target Trump and his business dealings upon election. James had publicly stated during her campaign that she would pursue investigations into Trump's finances, family, and associates, framing it as accountability for potential illegitimacy in his presidency. The complaint accused defendants of systematically inflating asset values in annual financial statements from 2011 to 2021 to secure favorable loan terms, insurance coverage, and tax advantages, while deflating values for property tax assessments. Specific examples included overvaluing Trump's triplex apartment in Trump Tower by claiming 30,000 square feet instead of 10,996, Mar-a-Lago by treating it as an unrestricted private residence rather than a social club, and various golf courses and properties with unsubstantiated projections. James's office claimed these misrepresentations boosted Trump's reported net worth by as much as $2.2 billion in some years, with over 200 instances of false entries documented. Under the statute invoked, no proof of financial loss to counterparties or specific intent to defraud was required, allowing enforcement based on the AG's demonstration of deceptive practices. Presiding in New York Supreme Court, Justice Arthur Engoron granted partial summary judgment on September 26, 2023, ruling that defendants had committed fraud as a matter of law by issuing false financial statements, revoking the Trump Organization's business certifications in New York, and appointing an independent monitor. A non-jury trial followed from October 2023 to January 2024 on remaining issues of disgorgement, injunctive relief, and consumer fraud claims. Witnesses included Trump Organization executives and independent appraisers, with evidence showing reliance on subjective "highest and best use" valuations unsupported by market data. On February 16, 2024, Engoron issued a final judgment holding defendants liable, ordering disgorgement of $355 million in ill-gotten gains—primarily from reduced interest on loans obtained via inflated statements—plus pre-judgment interest, totaling over $450 million. Trump was barred from serving as a director or officer of any New York company for three years, his sons for two years, and the Trump Organization required independent oversight for financial reporting. The ruling emphasized deterrence over proven victim losses, noting banks had not complained but that the statute prioritized preventing fraud regardless. Defendants appealed to the Appellate Division, First Department. On August 21, 2025, a divided panel vacated the monetary penalty, deeming it excessive and beyond statutory authority absent direct harm calculation, but affirmed the fraud liability finding and injunctive measures restricting business operations. The court remanded for potential recalculation of penalties while staying enforcement pending further appeals to the New York Court of Appeals, where both sides continue litigation as of October 2025. Trump and supporters have characterized the suit as politically motivated retaliation, pointing to James's pre-election vows to "take on" Trump and the absence of complaining victims or losses to lenders like Deutsche Bank, which profited from deals. Critics argue the case exemplifies selective enforcement under a broad statute, potentially enabling abuse by politically aligned AGs, though James's office maintains it upholds consumer protection against deceptive practices irrespective of partisan context. The proceedings drew scrutiny for Engoron's pretrial rulings and courtroom conduct, with Trump posting the judge's photo in violation of a gag order, resulting in fines.

Other targeted enforcement actions

In the wake of Donald Trump's inauguration for a second term on January 20, 2025, New York Attorney General Letitia James initiated multiple civil lawsuits challenging executive actions by the Trump administration, alleging violations of state and federal law. By April 29, 2025, her office had filed 15 such lawsuits and submitted 22 amicus briefs opposing policies deemed unlawful, focusing on areas including immigration, environmental regulations, and election integrity. These actions positioned James as a primary legal adversary to the administration, echoing her pre-2019 campaign pledge to scrutinize Trump's conduct while extending to broader policy disputes. One prominent case involved a May 6, 2025, lawsuit filed by James, alongside a coalition of attorneys general, against President Trump and federal officials to block an executive order on elections, which plaintiffs argued unconstitutionally interfered with state-administered processes by imposing federal oversight on voter rolls and ballot procedures. The suit contended the order exceeded executive authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution and violated the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022, seeking injunctive relief to prevent implementation. A federal district court granted a preliminary injunction on June 13, 2025, halting the order nationwide pending full litigation, with James's office citing the ruling as a defense of state sovereignty in electoral matters. Additional enforcement targeted administration efforts to alter federal funding and regulatory frameworks affecting New York, including suits over proposed cuts to Medicaid reimbursements and reversals of climate-related rules under the Clean Air Act. For instance, on September 30, 2025, James sued to protect over $3.3 million in state aid threatened by an executive directive, securing a favorable ruling alongside Governor Kathy Hochul that restored the funds by mid-October 2025. Critics, including administration spokespersons, characterized these filings as politically motivated obstructionism, while James maintained they safeguarded New Yorkers from overreach unsupported by statutory authority. These cases, often litigated in federal courts with multidistrict coordination, underscored James's strategy of leveraging parens patriae authority to contest national policies with localized impacts, amassing preliminary victories in several instances by late 2025. Separately, on September 3, 2025, James filed a civil lawsuit in New York Supreme Court against the VDARE Foundation and its leaders Peter Brimelow and Lydia Brimelow, alleging misuse of over $2 million in charitable funds for personal benefit, including a $1.4 million castle purchase in West Virginia, sham transactions, and failure to comply with reporting requirements under New York nonprofit laws.

Political ambitions and re-election

2022 Democratic primary for governor

Letitia James announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2022 New York gubernatorial election on October 29, 2021, launching a challenge against incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul, who had ascended to the office following Andrew Cuomo's resignation amid sexual harassment allegations investigated by James's office. James framed her bid around her prosecutorial experience, emphasizing priorities like affordable housing, public safety, and economic justice, while positioning herself as a fighter against corruption exemplified by her role in Cuomo's downfall. The campaign encountered immediate obstacles, including lagging fundraising efforts that failed to compete with Hochul's projected $25 million war chest and incumbency advantages, such as control over state resources and inherited Cuomo loyalists. A Siena College poll conducted December 1–6, 2021, showed Hochul leading James 36% to 18% among likely Democratic primary voters, reflecting James's struggles to consolidate support in key demographics like progressives and Black voters, where rivals Jumaane Williams and Hochul drew stronger endorsements. Political insiders noted additional pressures, including potential competition from figures like Bill de Blasio and attacks from Cuomo allies questioning the impartiality of James's investigations. On December 9, 2021, James suspended her gubernatorial campaign after less than six weeks, opting instead to seek re-election as attorney general to pursue ongoing high-profile cases, including civil fraud probes against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association. In her statement, James cited the need to "complete the work New Yorkers elected me to do," amid reports that stalled donor commitments and the risk of a fragmented primary field influenced her strategic retreat. Her withdrawal cleared a path for Hochul, who went on to win the June 28, 2022, Democratic primary against Tom Suozzi and Jumaane Williams.

2022 Attorney General re-election

Incumbent Attorney General Letitia James sought re-election in 2022 after opting against a gubernatorial bid amid personal and professional challenges, including her own mortgage fraud investigation and the collapse of her initial exploratory campaign for higher office. James faced no opponents in the Democratic primary on June 28, 2022, securing the nomination automatically. The Republican primary also proceeded without significant contest, nominating Michael Henry, a 42-year-old commercial litigation attorney from Queens who operated a boutique firm focused on creditor bankruptcy and represented clients in asylum cases.) Henry positioned himself as an outsider aiming to restore impartiality to the office, criticizing James for prioritizing partisan pursuits over public safety concerns like rising crime rates. James campaigned on her enforcement record, highlighting civil rights protections, consumer safeguards, and high-profile accountability actions against figures such as former Governor Andrew Cuomo for workplace harassment and the Trump Organization for financial fraud allegations. Henry countered that James had politicized the attorney general's role, devoting resources to ideologically driven lawsuits while New York faced escalating violent crime and economic pressures, a critique echoed in broader 2022 midterm Republican messaging on law enforcement. In the general election on November 8, 2022, James defeated Henry statewide. James received 3,168,256 votes (54.60 percent), while Henry garnered 2,631,301 votes (45.35 percent), reflecting a narrower margin than her 2018 victory amid national Republican gains in the midterms. The race drew attention for its contrast with New York's Democratic lean, with Henry's performance signaling voter dissatisfaction with James's tenure in upstate and suburban areas, though she retained strong urban support.

Allegations of selective prosecution and political bias

Letitia James faced accusations of political bias during her 2018 campaign for New York Attorney General, when she explicitly pledged to target Donald Trump, stating she would "use every area of the law to investigate President Trump and his business transactions." In campaign materials and interviews, James described Trump as an "illegitimate president" and asserted that he could be indicted for criminal offenses, including obstruction of justice, while vowing to probe his real estate dealings for alleged money laundering by foreign entities. These statements, made prior to assuming office, led critics including Trump to label her pursuit a predetermined "GET TRUMP agenda," arguing they evidenced prejudgment incompatible with impartial enforcement. In September 2022, James filed a civil lawsuit against Trump, his adult children, and the Trump Organization, alleging years of fraudulent asset valuations that inflated net worth by billions to secure favorable loans and insurance. The case resulted in a February 2024 judgment holding Trump liable for fraud, with penalties exceeding $450 million plus interest, though no victims were identified as harmed. Trump and supporters contended this exemplified selective prosecution, asserting that overvaluation practices are routine in New York real estate—where developers routinely negotiate with banks over appraisals—yet James's office uniquely fixated on Trump without equivalent actions against comparable figures, particularly those aligned with Democrats. Legal analysts have argued such targeting raises equal protection concerns under the U.S. Constitution, as prosecutors must demonstrate non-arbitrary enforcement standards. Allegations of bias extended to James's broader enforcement patterns, with critics highlighting her aggressive probes into Trump-related entities alongside investigations of the National Rifle Association—resulting in a 2024 dissolution attempt upheld on appeal—and the VDARE Foundation, which she sued in September 2025 for alleged self-dealing and misuse of millions in charitable assets by its founders, seeking restitution and potential dissolution, amid criticisms of overreach against conservative nonprofits while sparing scrutiny of similar nonprofit or financial irregularities involving Democratic interests. For instance, despite New York's history of real estate tycoons affiliated with Democratic donors engaging in asset disputes, no parallel high-profile civil fraud suits emerged from her tenure until the Trump action. Trump publicly decried a "double standard of justice," a view echoed in conservative outlets and legal filings claiming her office's resources were disproportionately allocated to politically adversarial targets. James dismissed these as baseless, maintaining her actions upheld the rule of law against systemic abuses. James's investigations into other political figures, such as former Governor Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations leading to his 2021 resignation, drew less partisan fire but fueled claims of inconsistent vigor; critics noted Cuomo faced no financial penalties akin to Trump's, despite probes into his administration's dealings. Overall, the selective prosecution narrative posits that James's electoral rhetoric and case selection reflected partisan incentives in a heavily Democratic state, prioritizing high-visibility Republican adversaries over uniform application of fraud statutes. These allegations persisted through appeals and into 2025, when James herself invoked selective prosecution defenses in her federal mortgage fraud case, highlighting irony in the discourse.

Federal indictment for mortgage fraud

On October 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on one count of bank fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1344 and one count of making false statements to a financial institution under 18 U.S.C. § 1014. The charges stem from alleged misrepresentations James made in securing a Fannie Mae-backed mortgage for a property at 3121 Peronne Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia, purchased on August 17, 2020, for approximately $137,000 with a loan of about $109,600. The indictment alleges that James schemed to defraud lenders OVM Financial and First Savings Bank by falsely certifying the property as her secondary residence in the loan application, as required by the Second Home Rider, when she intended to and did use it as a rental investment property, leasing it to a family of three. Supporting this, prosecutors cite her homeowners' insurance policy listing the property as owner-occupied and her federal tax filings on Schedule E, which reported rental income while indicating no personal use by James from July 28, 2020, through January 2024. These misrepresentations allegedly enabled James to obtain a lower interest rate than available for investment properties, yielding savings of approximately $17,837 in interest payments plus an excess seller credit of about $1,096, for a total financial benefit of roughly $18,933. Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan described the charges as involving "intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust," emphasizing that "no one is above the law." Each count carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, along with potential forfeiture of gains. The investigation originated in May 2025 under the Department of Justice, expanding by August to focus on the mortgage application. James pleaded not guilty to both counts during her arraignment on October 24, 2025, in Norfolk, Virginia, where she denounced the prosecution as an abuse of power and affirmed her commitment to the rule of law. A trial date was set for January 26, 2026. James and her supporters, including Democratic allies, have characterized the case as politically motivated retaliation by the Trump administration, given Halligan's prior role in Trump-related defenses and James's history of litigating against Donald Trump and his organization; prosecutors maintain the evidence warranted grand jury action independent of external pressures. James remains presumed innocent pending trial.

Inquiry into financial transactions with hairdresser

Federal prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into financial transactions involving New York Attorney General Letitia James and her longtime hairdresser, Iyesata Marsh, who was indicted by a grand jury in December 2025 in the Western District of Louisiana for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The probe, reported by The New York Times citing sources with knowledge, focuses on past transactions potentially linked to James or her campaign. This early-stage inquiry, separate from the prior federal indictment for mortgage fraud, was reported on January 8, 2026, and confirmed by sources to CBS News.

Responses to personal and professional scrutiny

Letitia James has consistently defended her professional conduct against allegations of selective prosecution and political bias, particularly in high-profile cases like the civil suit against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization, asserting that her office's actions are driven by evidence and legal standards rather than partisan motives. In a statement following the federal indictment against her on October 9, 2025, James emphasized that her investigation into the Trump Organization was "based on the facts and the law," rejecting claims of bias as attempts to undermine accountability. She has maintained that her enforcement decisions prioritize public protection, dismissing critics' accusations—often voiced by Trump and his allies—as politically motivated distractions from documented corporate misconduct. Regarding personal scrutiny, James pleaded not guilty on October 24, 2025, to federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution related to mortgage applications for properties in Norfolk, Virginia, and Brooklyn, New York, stemming from alleged misrepresentations about residency and income sources dating back to 1983 and later transactions. Her legal team has characterized the prosecution as "improper political retribution" orchestrated by Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, filing motions to dismiss on grounds of selective and vindictive prosecution, citing similar arguments in related cases like that of former FBI Director James Comey. James has publicly denounced the charges as revenge for her prior actions against Trump, stating in court and subsequent remarks that they exemplify an abuse of federal power to target political adversaries. In both spheres, James has accused opponents of hypocrisy, pointing to the timing and personnel involved in investigations against her—initiated after Trump's 2025 inauguration—as evidence of retaliatory intent rather than impartial justice. Her responses include legal challenges to the federal probe's validity, such as seeking sanctions against Halligan for alleged improper communications with journalists about the case, framing these as violations of prosecutorial ethics. Trial in the mortgage fraud case is scheduled for early 2026, during which James intends to contest the evidence, including claims that she underreported income from her law practice and overstated property values.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Letitia James was born on October 18, 1958, in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, to Robert James, a maintenance worker, and Nellie James, who worked as a hospital floor scrubber and housekeeper. She grew up as one of eight children in a working-class family, with her parents instilling values of hard work and community involvement amid the civil rights era. James has maintained a private personal life, with no public records or disclosures indicating marriage or long-term partnerships. She has no children and has described herself as child-free, instead channeling mentorship efforts toward younger professionals in law and public service. Biographical accounts emphasize her focus on career over family formation, without reference to romantic relationships.

Financial and residential history

Letitia James was born on October 18, 1958, in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, where she was raised in a working-class family. She has maintained her primary residence in Brooklyn throughout her adult life, including during her tenure as New York City Council member, Public Advocate, and Attorney General. In 2001, James purchased a five-unit brownstone at 296 Lafayette Avenue in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn using her personal savings, with the intent to provide housing support for her ailing mother and family members. The property generates rental income from its units, contributing to her overall finances alongside her public salary. James acquired an additional property in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2020 for $137,000, which she listed in financial disclosures as generating between $1,000 and $5,000 annually in rental income. New York State financial disclosure statements, required for public officials, indicate her net worth at approximately $2.7 million as of her most recent filing, derived from real estate holdings, salary as Attorney General (approximately $151,500 per year), and supplemental earnings from legal teaching and rentals.

Electoral history

New York City Council

Letitia James was elected to the New York City Council on November 4, 2003, defeating Geoffrey Davis in the Democratic primary runoff and securing the 35th district seat, which encompasses Brooklyn neighborhoods including Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, and parts of Prospect Heights. She assumed office on January 1, 2004, becoming the first woman to represent the district and focusing primarily on housing affordability, community development, and tenant protections during her tenure, which lasted until 2013 due to term limits. James won re-election in 2005, 2007, and 2009 without significant opposition in the general elections. A key legislative achievement was the Safe Housing Act, which James introduced and which became city law in 2007; the measure mandated repairs and improvements in severely substandard buildings, affecting thousands of tenants in the city's most neglected housing stock by requiring landlords to address chronic issues like heat, plumbing, and structural safety. She also advocated for grandparents' rights, sponsoring and helping enact legislation granting them standing to seek custody of grandchildren in certain family disputes. James prioritized combating gentrification in her district, pushing for policies to preserve affordable housing amid rapid development pressures, including early interventions that secured commitments from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development for tenant protections before her official term began. James emerged as a prominent critic of the Atlantic Yards project, a proposed arena and mixed-use development in Prospect Heights backed by developer Bruce Ratner; she opposed it on grounds of excessive eminent domain use, insufficient affordable housing commitments, and limited community control, participating in lawsuits challenging the project's environmental review and advocating for modifications to prioritize local input and economic benefits for residents. Her stance highlighted tensions between large-scale urban redevelopment and neighborhood preservation, though the project proceeded with modifications after years of litigation. During her campaign for the 2003 seat, James's committee faced scrutiny from the New York City Campaign Finance Board, which assessed a $28,744 penalty in September 2003 for exceeding the $137,000 expenditure limit under the public financing program, a violation stemming from unreported or mismatched contributions and spending. James did not seek a fourth term in 2013, instead running successfully for New York City Public Advocate.

New York City Public Advocate

Letitia James was elected New York City Public Advocate on November 5, 2013, after winning a Democratic primary runoff against Michael Blake by 59% to 41%, and assumed office on January 1, 2014, succeeding Bill de Blasio who had become mayor. Her tenure lasted until December 31, 2018, when she transitioned to the New York State Attorney General position. James became the first woman of color elected to citywide office in New York City history. In this role, she functioned as an ombudsman, investigating citizen complaints against municipal agencies, advocating for vulnerable populations, and reviewing proposed city legislation before council votes. James's office introduced over 40 pieces of legislation during her term, claiming to have enacted more bills than all prior public advocates combined, according to her official biography. Notable measures included a requirement for the New York Police Department to document demographic details of individuals subjected to stop-and-frisk encounters, aimed at enhancing transparency in policing practices. She also sponsored and helped pass a 2017 law prohibiting employers from asking job applicants about prior salary history, intended to reduce gender wage disparities by decoupling offers from historical pay data. In November 2015, James introduced the Crosswalk Bill, which extended pedestrians' right-of-way protection through the flashing "don't walk" phase at intersections; the New York City Council approved this measure in 2017 as part of broader Vision Zero efforts to cut traffic fatalities. A signature initiative was the annual Worst Landlords Watchlist, first published under James in 2014, which ranked the city's 100 most violation-prone property owners and managers based on data from housing, health, and fire agencies. The list highlighted systemic issues in rental housing, such as unaddressed violations and emergency repair failures; for 2016, it identified 100 landlords overseeing buildings with over 25,000 open violations, while the 2017 edition spotlighted repeat offender Jonathan Cohen of Silvershore Properties as number one. In December 2018, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) topped the list for the first time, with 1,123 buildings cited for 340,000 violations, prompting James to tour affected sites and call for federal intervention. This tool empowered tenants by publicizing data and pressuring agencies for enforcement, though critics noted it relied on existing violation records without new prosecutorial powers. James advocated for police accountability, compiling reports on agency practices and pushing reforms amid post-Floyd scrutiny, though specific legislative wins in this area built on council tenure efforts. Early in her term, she successfully lobbied Mayor de Blasio's administration in April 2014 to halt plans privatizing public dialysis services, preserving access for low-income patients. In March 2017, she proposed using city procurement leverage to oppose federal border wall funding, framing it as protection for immigrant communities. These actions positioned her office as a check on executive decisions, though effectiveness varied, with some initiatives facing implementation delays due to mayoral vetoes or council modifications.

New York Attorney General

Letitia James was elected New York Attorney General on November 6, 2018, securing 3,739,239 votes (62.4 percent) against Republican Keith Wofford's 2,120,530 votes (35.4 percent), becoming the first African American and first woman elected to the office. She assumed office on January 1, 2019, succeeding acting Attorney General Barbara Underwood, who had filled the vacancy after Eric Schneiderman's resignation amid his own harassment allegations. James' tenure has emphasized civil enforcement against corporations and public officials. In 2021, her office released an investigative report on August 3 detailing findings that Governor Andrew Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 state employees, including nonconsensual touching and inappropriate comments, prompting Cuomo's resignation on August 10. The probe involved over 180 interviews and review of thousands of documents, though Cuomo later contested its methodology in ethics complaints alleging incomplete evidence review. High-profile corporate actions include a September 21, 2022, civil suit against Donald Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization for fraudulently inflating asset values by billions to secure favorable loans and insurance, violating Executive Law Section 63(12). On February 16, 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled the defendants liable without a jury trial on the core fraud claim, imposing a $355 million disgorgement penalty on Trump personally (growing to over $464 million with interest by October 2024), barring him from New York business for three years, and revoking corporate charters for two entities; the ruling awaits appeal. In August 2020, James sued the National Rifle Association under New York's nonprofit laws, alleging executives including CEO Wayne LaPierre diverted over $64 million in donor funds for personal luxuries like yacht trips and private jets. A February 2024 jury found LaPierre and others liable for breach of fiduciary duties, ordering $4.4 million in repayments from LaPierre and $2 million from former treasurer Jesse Tomilson; December 2024 court orders imposed governance reforms and board election changes but rejected dissolution of the NRA. The case stemmed from internal NRA whistleblowers and financial audits revealing unreported self-dealing. James has pursued opioid accountability, contributing to a multistate $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family finalized in January 2025, ending Sackler control of the company and directing funds to abatement programs; New York's share supports treatment and prevention amid over 80,000 statewide overdose deaths since 2010. Additional efforts target consumer protection, with resolutions of hundreds of predatory lending complaints and suits against entities like big tech firms for antitrust violations. On November 8, 2022, James won re-election with 3,060,282 votes (56.0 percent) over Republican Michael Henry's 2,406,801 (44.0 percent), amid a narrower Democratic margin than in 2018. Her second term continues focus on enforcement, including environmental suits against polluters and defenses of state laws in federal challenges.

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