Judiciary Democrats Launch Investigation into DOJ’s Retaliatory Prosecution of New York State Attorney General Letitia James

Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, and Rep. Dan Goldman wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding records relating to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) prosecution of New York State Attorney General (AG) Letitia James, who remains the subject of retaliatory prosecutorial abuse at the President’s behest despite previous rebukes from a federal judge and two federal grand juries. 

“Your Department’s mission is to uphold the rule of law, not wield the law against perceived enemies. The president’s interference in this prosecution, your illegal appointment of a loyalist with no prosecutorial experience as interim U.S. Attorney, your firing of career prosecutors loyal to the constitution and not the president, and your Department’s failed indictments of Ms. James indicate brazen efforts to weaponize our nation’s justice system for partisan ends,” wrote the Members. 

Once President Trump was sworn into office, he appointed Erik Siebert as the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) and tasked him with investigating AG James’s conduct for alleged mortgage fraud—an unsubstantiated claim that lacked sufficient evidence. Mr. Siebert ultimately declined to bring charges against AG James; however, mere days after this decision became public, President Trump told reporters he wanted him “out” as interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA and forced his resignation. 

Lindsey Halligan, a former member of President Trump’s personal legal team with no prosecutorial experience, succeeded Mr. Seibert as interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA. Within three weeks of her appointment, Ms. Halligan filed charges against AG James and secured an indictment. However, two months into her tenure, a federal judge ruled her appointment as Interim U.S. Attorney for EDVA unlawful and subsequently dismissed the indictment against AG James.    

Despite the judge’s decision to nullify Ms. Halligan’s indictment, DOJ immediately attempted to re-file charges against AG James. When a federal grand jury refused to indict her, DOJ sought charges in separate federal court where a second grand jury also rejected the indictment.  

President Trump’s vindictive campaign against AG James predates his current term: in a November 2023 Truth Social post, he stated that “She should be prosecuted!” and in a January 2024 campaign speech, he said she should be “arrested and punished” for her success in bringing a civil fraud lawsuit against the President and members of the Trump Organization.

“The fact that both indictments were rejected by grand juries is strong evidence that your prosecutors—perhaps pressured by you or the Administration—are attempting to move forward with shoddy or nonexistent evidence—actions that can constitute prosecutorial misconduct. Still, your Department is reportedly pursuing yet another investigation into Ms. James—apparently hellbent on securing a prosecution, regardless of the evidence,” wrote the Members.

DOJ’s persistent pursuit of baseless charges against AG James, in the face of repeated judicial rejections, demands an immediate investigation into the weaponization of the federal justice system. Judiciary Democrats demand Attorney General Bondi produce records and communications pertaining to the unlawful prosecution of AG James.

Click here to read the letter.