New York Attorney General Letitia James appeared in federal court in Norfolk on October 24, 2025, and formally pleaded not guilty to two counts — bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The indictment alleges she misrepresented the nature of a 2020 property purchase in Norfolk to obtain more favorable mortgage terms, a serious set of accusations that cannot be shrugged off simply because of her title.
Prosecutors say James signed a “second home” rider and then treated the house as an investment property, renting it to a family member and allegedly saving nearly $18,000 over the life of the loan. A federal judge set a trial date for January 26, 2026, and James was released on her own recognizance after the arraignment, underscoring that this matter will be decided in open court rather than in the court of public opinion.
This case carries an added layer of controversy because of the prosecutor who brought the indictment — Lindsey Halligan, a recent Trump appointee whose elevation has been challenged by career prosecutors and who previously served as the former president’s lawyer. James’ legal team has already signaled it will seek dismissal by attacking Halligan’s appointment and accusing the prosecution of political motivation, raising constitutional questions that may determine how the trial proceeds.
Letitia James built a national reputation by going after Donald Trump and other high-profile figures, and many Americans will understandably see this moment as full of ironies. Conservatives should be clear: accountability is not partisan theater — if there was wrongdoing, it must be prosecuted; if the charges are politically driven, that too must be exposed and stopped.
What matters now is process, not hashtags. The evidence alleged in the indictment — mortgage forms, occupancy claims, and financial savings — will be tested under oath, and hardworking Americans deserve a transparent proceeding where facts, not political scorekeeping, prevail.
As the trial date approaches, patriots who care about the rule of law should watch closely and insist on equal justice under the law, not a system that protects the powerful or weaponizes the Justice Department for political ends. Letitia James deserves due process like anyone else, but supporters who once cheered her crusades should not reflexively shield her from scrutiny; the same standards must apply to everyone.
