Letitia James Emerges as a Relentless Opponent to Trump Amid Justice Department Scrutiny

During a town hall event in Westchester County last month, New York Attorney General Letitia James was outlining her commitment to defending democracy and promoting courage amid the challenges posed by the Trump administration’s second term when a man in the audience abruptly accused her of mortgage fraud and predicted imprisonment.

James remained composed, offering a polite smile and dismissing the claim as unfounded while her staff escorted the man out. She then smoothly shifted her focus back to the next attendee waiting to speak.

This confrontation exemplified the prominent adversarial role James has embraced against the former president in recent years—and the personal and political risks associated with it. The accusation referenced an ongoing criminal inquiry led by the Justice Department, which has been perceived as favoring Trump’s allies while pursuing those aligned against him.

Since filing a landmark fraud lawsuit against Trump three years ago, resulting in a $500 million penalty now under appeal, James has remained a vocal and active opponent throughout his second term.

Her office has launched 21 lawsuits targeting Trump, collaborating with other Democratic attorneys general to challenge a wide range of policies—from aggressive federal budget cuts to abrupt freezes on federal funding for states.

Several of these legal actions have effectively stalled the administration’s objectives, at least temporarily. For example, in May, a judge blocked Trump’s plan to implement mass layoffs that would have significantly reduced the U.S. Department of Education’s workforce.