The Justice Division expanded its investigation into New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James, subpoenaing James for her workplace’s dealing with of the civil fraud investigation into President Trump, in accordance with a Trump administration supply accustomed to the investigation.
One other subpoena was despatched to James’ workplace concerning her workplace’s investigation into the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Northern District of New York is main the investigations, the supply stated.
The subpoenas are a sign that the Trump administration is continuous to research the president’s political adversaries. James investigated Mr. Trump earlier than his 2024 election victory. The New York Instances first reported the subpoenas.
The U.S. Lawyer’s workplace within the Northern District of New York didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. A Justice Division spokesperson declined to remark.
A spokesperson for the New York Lawyer Normal’s workplace stated in a press release, “Any weaponization of the justice system ought to disturb each American. We stand strongly behind our profitable litigation in opposition to the Trump Group and the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation, and we’ll proceed to face up for New Yorkers’ rights.”
James’ lawyer Abbe Lowell stated in a press release, “Investigating the fraud case Lawyer Normal James gained in opposition to President Trump and his companies needs to be probably the most blatant and determined instance of this administration finishing up the president’s political retribution marketing campaign.”
In 2022, James introduced a civil go well with in opposition to Mr. Trump and the Trump Group, in search of a penalty that grew to $370 million and requested the court docket to bar him from doing enterprise within the state of New York. She gained the case, and the court docket ordered Mr. Trump and his firm to pay $354 million in fines — a complete that has risen when curiosity is factored in. The court docket additionally barred them from in search of loans from monetary establishments in New York for 3 years and banned Mr. Trump from serving as an officer or director of any New York company.
Further penalties had been ordered for Mr. Trump’s sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., who’re executives on the firm.
Lowell accused the Trump administration of “[w]eaponizing the Division of Justice to attempt to punish an elected official for doing her job” and stated it was “an assault on the rule of legislation and a harmful escalation by this administration.”
“If prosecutors perform this improper tactic and are genuinely within the reality, we’re prepared and ready with the info and the legislation,” Lowell stated.
In Might, CBS Information reported {that a} prison fraud probe led by the FBI had been launched into James for alleged mortgage fraud.
This can be a growing story and will likely be up to date.
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contributed to this report.
