Letitia James used Donald Trump and his business dealings as a key issue in her successful campaigns for New York Attorney General in both 2018 and 2022.
Her 2018 election
In her initial campaign, James was explicit in her intent to investigate Trump. She publicly stated her belief that Trump was an “illegitimate president” and an “embarrassment,” and promised to “follow his money”.
James also vowed to “shine a bright light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings” during her victory speech in November 2018.
Trump and his lawyers later cited these campaign comments as evidence of political bias, claiming James was engaged in a “witch hunt” against him.
Her 2022 election
By the time of her 2022 reelection campaign, James’s office had already filed a high-profile civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, the Trump Organization, and his children.
The lawsuit, which accused Trump of inflating his assets to defraud lenders, was a central part of her campaign and public profile.
Even during the civil trial that followed, James continued to publicly comment on the case, with Trump and his lawyers claiming it was politically motivated.
While James’s campaigns focused on a range of issues, her repeated and very public focus on investigating and litigating against Donald Trump and his business was a defining element of her candidacies. This strategy appealed to voters opposed to Trump and helped secure her victories for the Attorney General position.
She needs to be disbarred and shown the door.