The Justice Department has issued subpoenas to New York Attorney General Letitia James as part of an investigation into whether she violated President Donald Trump’s civil rights, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.
The subpoenas seek records connected to a lawsuit James filed against Trump over alleged fraud in his personal business dealings, as well as a separate case involving the National Rifle Association. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the subpoenas relate to a civil rights probe.
This move escalates the Trump administration’s ongoing scrutiny of perceived political opponents, including figures like James who investigated Trump prior to his 2024 election victory.
A spokesperson for James’s office, Geoff Burgan, did not confirm the subpoenas but stated, “Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American. We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.”
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James’s personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, called the investigation an “improper tactic” and “the most blatant and desperate example” of political retribution by the administration. Lowell said, “Weaponizing the Department of Justice to punish an elected official for doing her job is an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration.”
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Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre declined to comment.
James, a Democrat, has filed numerous lawsuits against Trump and his administration over policies and his private business activities. Trump is appealing a multimillion-dollar judgment won by James in a fraud case, which alleges he provided banks and lenders with inflated financial statements for properties including golf clubs and his Trump Tower penthouse.
Trump denies wrongdoing, claiming his financial statements understated his wealth and that any errors were harmless and did not influence lending decisions. He and his legal team have accused James of engaging in politically motivated “lawfare,” a charge she denies.
The subpoenas come amid a broader Justice Department investigation linked to the Trump-Russia probe from his first term, alongside a reported purge of law enforcement officials involved in investigations of Trump and his allies.