Letitia James: Living Proof That Karma is a Real Bitch

As of August 19, 2025, New York Attorney General Letitia James is simultaneously defending her own record while facing unprecedented scrutiny from federal investigators. Two federal inquiries are active. In April and May, the Federal Housing Finance Agency referred James to the Department of Justice over mortgage-fraud allegations tied to her properties in Virginia and Brooklyn, reportedly triggering an FBI investigation. On August 8, federal prosecutors served subpoenas on James to determine whether her civil fraud cases against Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association violated civil rights protections. No criminal charges have been filed in either matter.

At the same time, James continues to press forward with her highest-profile cases. In February 2024, she secured a civil fraud judgment against Donald Trump, though the appeal is still pending after an unusually long delay. She also won a jury verdict against the NRA and its former chief Wayne LaPierre, though her request to dissolve the organization was denied in 2022. Courts have generally upheld her authority to bring these actions, but the broader political environment—especially after the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in NRA v. Vullo—has fueled arguments that New York regulators are weaponizing their powers against disfavored groups.

Who Is Letitia James?

Letitia “Tish” James has served as New York’s Attorney General since January 2019. She rose to prominence through headline-grabbing investigations and lawsuits, including her office’s 2021 report on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s misconduct, the 2022 civil fraud case against Trump, and the 2020–2024 litigation against the NRA. These cases positioned her as one of the most visible state-level prosecutors in the country, admired by her supporters for holding powerful figures accountable and criticized by her opponents as a partisan warrior.

The Current Allegations

The first major inquiry concerns alleged mortgage-fraud tied to James’s personal real estate holdings. Reports claim that she misrepresented her primary residence on loan documents and filed inaccurate paperwork related to a Brooklyn property. On April 14, 2025, the FHFA sent a criminal referral to DOJ. Within weeks, multiple outlets confirmed that the FBI had launched a probe. James’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, dismissed the claims as clerical errors blown out of proportion and argued that the probe was political retaliation. As of today, no charges have been filed.

The second line of scrutiny stems from subpoenas issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York on August 8, 2025. These subpoenas seek to determine whether James’s enforcement actions against Trump and the NRA crossed into violations of civil rights law. Her office immediately framed the move as an example of weaponization of the justice system. Like the mortgage probe, this is still in the investigative stage and no charges or findings have been issued.

Letitia James High-Profile Cases

The Trump civil fraud case remains James’s most consequential achievement. In February 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump and his associates had committed persistent fraud in their real estate valuations. The court imposed roughly $364 million in disgorgement, a figure that has swelled above $450 million with accrued interest. Trump has appealed, and the case is now before New York’s Appellate Division, First Department. Nearly a year after oral arguments, the court has yet to issue a ruling, an unusually long delay for a panel known for speed. Legal observersreport that the judges are deeply split on the scope of the decision and the remedies imposed.

James’s NRA case, filed in 2020, resulted in a mixed outcome. A Manhattan jury in February 2024 found the NRA and Wayne LaPierre guilty of financial mismanagement and ordered millions in restitution. In December 2024, the court entered a final judgment requiring compliance reforms and accountability measures. However, two years earlier, in March 2022, the court had denied James’s request to dissolve the NRA entirely, describing that move as excessive. Additional requests for a monitorship were also curtailed, though the organization was forced into governance reforms. Throughout the litigation, NRA counterclaims that James’s investigation was political in nature were rejected by the courts.

The broader context shifted in May 2024 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion in NRA v. Vullo, a case unrelated to James personally but highly relevant to the larger debate. The Court ruled that New York’s former financial services regulator violated the First Amendment when she pressured banks and insurers to cut ties with the NRA. That ruling underscored constitutional limits on state regulators and added momentum to arguments that New York officials, including James, have pushed too far in targeting advocacy groups.

Other Flashpoints

James’s 2021 investigation of Governor Andrew Cuomo remains a political dividing line. The report concluded that Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women, which led to his resignation. Cuomo and his allies later accused James of conducting a politically motivated takedown. Federal courts have also consistently dismissed attempts by Trump to block her investigations outright. In 2022, his lawsuit seeking to halt her probe was thrown out, and his appeal was withdrawn after unrelated sanctions were imposed in another case.

Where Things Stand Today

As of now, James faces two federal inquiries that could evolve into criminal cases but remain unproven allegations. The mortgage-fraud referral is still under review, with the FBI investigating but no charges filed. The DOJ subpoenas on civil rights violations are active but preliminary. Meanwhile, the Trump civil fraud appeal lingers in the appellate court, with the judgment partially stayed pending a ruling. The NRA litigation has concluded with compliance reforms but not the dissolution James initially sought.

What to Watch Next

The coming months will likely determine whether these investigations escalate or fade away. A charging decision from the DOJ or the FBI on the mortgage allegations would be a major inflection point. The outcome of the civil rights inquiry could either vindicate or deeply undermine James’s enforcement record. And the long-awaited decision from the Appellate Division in Trump’s civil fraud case will shape her legacy, setting the precedent for how aggressively state attorneys general can pursue financial misconduct by powerful political figures.

The Brass Tacks

Letitia James remains one of the most polarizing legal figures in America. To her supporters, she is a fearless prosecutor who took on both Trump and the NRA and won. To her critics, she embodies the weaponization of the law for political ends. At this moment, she is both prosecutor and target—celebrated for courtroom victories while under federal investigation herself. Until the Department of Justice or the courts issue definitive rulings, the allegations against her remain allegations. Her highest-profile cases, however, are real and still reverberating through the legal and political landscape.