The Department of Justice has unleashed a grand jury investigation in Albany, New York, zeroing in on New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged deprivation of rights tied to her aggressive civil fraud lawsuit against President Donald Trump, as Fox News reports.
The probe, coupled with a separate mortgage fraud inquiry, signals a bold counteroffensive against James, a Democrat who has relentlessly targeted Trump since her 2018 election. Her office received subpoenas this week demanding documents related to her high-profile case against the former president.
Under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s direction, the DOJ is digging into whether James’s legal maneuvers violated Trump’s rights, a move that flips the script on her years-long crusade against him.
James, elected in 2018, wasted no time launching investigations into the Trump Organization. Her 2022 civil fraud lawsuit accused Trump and his executives, including two of his sons, of inflating his wealth to secure favorable loans. That case ended with a jaw-dropping $454 million judgment, which Trump is now appealing.
“If average New Yorkers submitted false documents, the government would throw the book at them,” James once declared, justifying her pursuit of Trump. Her sanctimonious tone rings hollow when her actions are now under federal scrutiny.
The DOJ’s grand jury is only in its early stages, examining evidence and witnesses to determine if charges are warranted. Convening a grand jury is a serious step, though indictments are easier to secure than convictions.
In April, the Trump Federal Housing Finance Agency pushed Bondi to investigate James for mortgage fraud. A separate probe, based in Virginia, is now running parallel to the Albany investigation. Subpoenas have already been issued in this case, as reported by the Washington Post.
Fox News confirmed Friday that DOJ official Ed Martin, leading a weaponization task force, is spearheading the mortgage fraud inquiry. Martin is also probing Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) for similar allegations in Maryland, suggesting a broader effort to hold progressive figures accountable.
James has flatly denied the mortgage fraud claims, but the dual investigations signal she’s not untouchable. Her office’s aggressive tactics may have painted a target on her back.
Since taking office, James has positioned herself as a leading antagonist of Trump’s administration. She has challenged his executive actions, from spending freezes on social programs to mass firings of federal employees and restrictions on transgender care for minors. Her lawsuits have often seemed more like political theater than principled justice.
“We stand strongly behind our litigation against the Trump Organization,” a James spokesperson boasted. Such bravado might not hold up under the DOJ’s magnifying glass.
Trump, never one to stay silent, fired back on Truth Social: “Letitia James, a corrupt politician, should resign.” His blunt assessment resonates with those skeptical of James’s motives.
“Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American,” a James spokesperson claimed, deflecting the DOJ’s probe. Yet, conservatives argue James has been weaponizing her office against Trump for years, making her outrage seem conveniently selective.
The grand jury process, which could stretch for weeks, will test whether James’s actions crossed legal lines. Her $454 million victory against Trump may have been a high point, but these investigations could mark a turning point.
For now, James faces a rare moment of accountability, as the DOJ’s probes threaten to unravel her carefully crafted image as a progressive crusader. The irony of a self-styled champion of justice facing federal scrutiny is hard to miss.
