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Trump officials pressuring federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges against NY AG Letitia James: Sources
◥◤Kriston Capps
@kristoncapps.bsky.social
"When federal prosecutors recently declined to indict James, Pulte encouraged Trump to fire Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and replace him with a prosecutor who would be willing to bring charges against James"
https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-officials-pressuring-federal-prosecutors-bring-criminal-charges/story?id=125636577
Trump officials pressuring federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges against NY AG Letitia James: Sources
Top Trump administration officials are pressuring federal prosecutors in Virginia to bring charges against New York AG Letitia James for mortgage fraud, sources say.
abcnews.go.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:14 AM
@kristoncapps.bsky.social
"When federal prosecutors recently declined to indict James, Pulte encouraged Trump to fire Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and replace him with a prosecutor who would be willing to bring charges against James"
https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-officials-pressuring-federal-prosecutors-bring-criminal-charges/story?id=125636577
Trump officials pressuring federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges against NY AG Letitia James: Sources
Top Trump administration officials are pressuring federal prosecutors in Virginia to bring charges against New York AG Letitia James for mortgage fraud, sources say.
abcnews.go.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:14 AM
"When federal prosecutors recently declined to indict James, Pulte encouraged Trump to fire Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and replace him with a prosecutor who would be willing to bring charges against James" abcnews.go.com/US/trump-off...
— ◥◤Kriston Capps (@kristoncapps.bsky.social) 2025-09-17T13:14:16.496Z
Trump officials pressuring federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges against NY AG Letitia James: Sources
Prosecutors have not found clear evidence James committed a crime, sources say.
By Peter Charalambous, Katherine Faulders, and Alexander Mallin
September 17, 2025, 5:21 AM
Top Trump administration officials are pressuring federal prosecutors in Virginia to bring charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James for mortgage fraud, despite investigators so far failing to find sufficient evidence supporting such charges, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
After a five-month investigation and interviews with more than a dozen witnesses, federal prosecutors have so far uncovered no clear evidence that James knowingly made false statements to a financial institution to secure favorable terms on a mortgage for her Virginia home, according to multiple sources briefed on the investigation.
Trump himself has pressured the Department of Justice leadership to investigate James more aggressively, and two officials -- Ed Martin, the head of the DOJ's Weaponization Working Group, and Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency -- have pushed the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia to seek an indictment of James. … When federal prosecutors recently declined to indict James, Pulte encouraged Trump to fire Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and replace him with a prosecutor who would be willing to bring charges against James, sources said.
The move to seek an indictment against one of the president's political rivals -- who successfully brought a civil fraud case against Trump last year and leads multiple lawsuits challenging his administration's policies -- would mark a significant escalation in what the president's critics have labeled a campaign of political retribution.
{snip}
Prosecutors have not found clear evidence James committed a crime, sources say.
By Peter Charalambous, Katherine Faulders, and Alexander Mallin
September 17, 2025, 5:21 AM
Top Trump administration officials are pressuring federal prosecutors in Virginia to bring charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James for mortgage fraud, despite investigators so far failing to find sufficient evidence supporting such charges, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
After a five-month investigation and interviews with more than a dozen witnesses, federal prosecutors have so far uncovered no clear evidence that James knowingly made false statements to a financial institution to secure favorable terms on a mortgage for her Virginia home, according to multiple sources briefed on the investigation.
Trump himself has pressured the Department of Justice leadership to investigate James more aggressively, and two officials -- Ed Martin, the head of the DOJ's Weaponization Working Group, and Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency -- have pushed the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia to seek an indictment of James. … When federal prosecutors recently declined to indict James, Pulte encouraged Trump to fire Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and replace him with a prosecutor who would be willing to bring charges against James, sources said.
The move to seek an indictment against one of the president's political rivals -- who successfully brought a civil fraud case against Trump last year and leads multiple lawsuits challenging his administration's policies -- would mark a significant escalation in what the president's critics have labeled a campaign of political retribution.
{snip}
3 replies
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Fight Erupts Over Fate of U.S. Attorney Investigating Two Trump Foes
Trump officials told Erik S. Siebert that he was likely to be fired. He had hit roadblocks investigating New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, and the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey.
Sept. 19, 2025 Updated 4:21 p.m. ET
The push to remove Erik S. Siebert, a highly regarded career prosecutor, came as a shock in an office that handles some of the nation’s most sensitive national security investigations. Rod Lamkey/Associated Press
A high-stakes debate raged inside the Trump administration on Friday over the fate of the veteran U.S. attorney investigating New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, and the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey, according to people briefed on the situation.
Administration officials informed Erik S. Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, that he would most likely be fired, but there appeared to be a last-ditch effort by some in the Justice Department to protect Mr. Siebert and the situation remained in flux, those people said.
Mr. Siebert has recently told senior Justice Department officials that investigators found insufficient evidence to bring mortgage fraud charges against Ms. James and has also raised concerns about a potential case against Mr. Comey, according to officials.
President Trump has long viewed Ms. James and Mr. Comey as adversaries and has repeatedly pledged retribution against law enforcement officials who pursued him. The president, who has publicly called Ms. James “a crook,” has in the past expressed frustration that a prosecution against her was not moving ahead, according to a person briefed on his remarks. ... A Justice Department spokesman and a White House spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Mr. Siebert did not comment.
{snip}
Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice for The Times and has also written about gun violence, civil rights and conditions in the country’s jails and prisons.
Maggie Haberman is a White House correspondent for The Times, reporting on President Trump.
Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in the New York region for The Times. He is focused on political influence and its effect on the rule of law in the area's federal and state courts.
Alan Feuer covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump.
William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York.
Trump officials told Erik S. Siebert that he was likely to be fired. He had hit roadblocks investigating New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, and the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey.
Sept. 19, 2025 Updated 4:21 p.m. ET
The push to remove Erik S. Siebert, a highly regarded career prosecutor, came as a shock in an office that handles some of the nation’s most sensitive national security investigations. Rod Lamkey/Associated Press
A high-stakes debate raged inside the Trump administration on Friday over the fate of the veteran U.S. attorney investigating New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, and the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey, according to people briefed on the situation.
Administration officials informed Erik S. Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, that he would most likely be fired, but there appeared to be a last-ditch effort by some in the Justice Department to protect Mr. Siebert and the situation remained in flux, those people said.
Mr. Siebert has recently told senior Justice Department officials that investigators found insufficient evidence to bring mortgage fraud charges against Ms. James and has also raised concerns about a potential case against Mr. Comey, according to officials.
President Trump has long viewed Ms. James and Mr. Comey as adversaries and has repeatedly pledged retribution against law enforcement officials who pursued him. The president, who has publicly called Ms. James “a crook,” has in the past expressed frustration that a prosecution against her was not moving ahead, according to a person briefed on his remarks. ... A Justice Department spokesman and a White House spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Mr. Siebert did not comment.
{snip}
Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice for The Times and has also written about gun violence, civil rights and conditions in the country’s jails and prisons.
Maggie Haberman is a White House correspondent for The Times, reporting on President Trump.
Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in the New York region for The Times. He is focused on political influence and its effect on the rule of law in the area's federal and state courts.
Alan Feuer covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump.
William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York.