Albany, New York (AP) As she ran for New York attorney general, Letitia James was fixated on Donald Trump, calling him a “con man” and a “carnival barker” and promising to “bright light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings.”
After a judge determined on Tuesday that Trump cheated banks, insurers, and others by inflating the value of assets on papers needed for sales and securing loans, James is on the approach of upending Trump’s real estate empire five years later.
Trump could lose ownership of valued properties including Trump Tower, a sizable suburban estate, office buildings, and more as a result of the decision, which transfers control of certain of his enterprises to a court-appointed receiver.
It’s only the most recent battle James, a Democrat, has had with a formidable opponent.
Here are some of her most significant cases and her political background:
SUITS FILED AGAINST TRUMP
James started looking into Trump almost as soon as she became attorney general in 2019.
As a result of the Republican president’s immigration and environmental policies, she filed numerous lawsuits against his government. James took over a state lawsuit already in progress against Trump’s nonprofit foundation that had been brought before she assumed office and guided it to a resolution that included a $2 million fine.
Asserting that his company misled banks, insurers, and others by exaggerating assets and his net worth on financial paperwork, she filed yet another civil complaint against Trump last year.
When announcing the case against Trump, she used the phrase “It’s the art of the steal,” using the phrase “The Art of the Deal” to attack Trump.
On Tuesday, a judge in New York decided to side with James, finding that Trump and his corporation had committed fraud and ordering the suspension of certain of his business licenses as a result.
If the verdict is upheld despite an anticipated appeal, it may be hard for Trump to conduct business in the state and would deprive him of the authority to make decisions regarding some of his real estate holdings there.
James’ legal volleys have long been derided by Trump as political theater intended to make her famous. In a string of social media posts, he denounced the most recent decision, branding it a “POLITICALLY MOTIVATED WITCH HUNT.”
The Republican has also expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that her remarks about him made before her victory prove she never intended to be fair.
THEODORE CUOMO
James led a probe into allegations of sexual harassment against Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, in 2021.
The once-rising star of the Democratic party had a spectacular collapse as a result of the investigation. When 11 women claimed that Cuomo touched them improperly, made comments about their attractiveness, or made suggestive remarks about their sex lives, attorneys hired by James came to the conclusion that they were speaking the truth.
Cuomo claims that James manipulated the inquiry to advance her own political ambitions and claims that he was the victim of excessive #MeToo prosecution.
After Cuomo’s resignation, James conducted a brief campaign for governor but dropped out after a few weeks, declaring she would rather run for a second term as attorney general. Cuomo’s assertion that her inquiry of him was driven by politics has been refuted by her.
RIFLE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
James has been leading a lawsuit since 2020 that accuses the National Rifle Association’s executives of financial malfeasance.
Her lawsuit said that a few NRA executives had profited personally and professionally from the organization’s gun rights campaign. James, who has regulatory authority over tax-exempt charities in her capacity as attorney general, presented the legal dispute with the NRA as an effort to save the group from itself.
However, opponents argued James, a supporter of gun regulation, was attempting to quiet the nation’s loudest pro-gun voice.
She first wanted the NRA to be disbanded. The action was allowed to proceed despite the judge rejecting that contention.
Political context
James won the 2018 race for attorney general in New York, making history as the first Black woman, the first Black attorney general, and the first woman to hold the position. Barbara Underwood, a female predecessor, was chosen. In 2022, she was re-elected as attorney general after abandoning her ill-fated bid for governor.
Prior to that, James served as the Public Advocate for New York City, a position designed to assist citizens in navigating and resolving issues with governmental services and act as a watchdog on City Hall.
James became well-known in the city as a result of his work, frequently showing up at crime scenes, press conferences, and other events to raise awareness of locals’ worries.
She has previously worked as a public defender and an assistant state attorney general in addition to serving on the city council. She received her undergraduate degree from the Bronx’s Lehman College and her law degree from Washington’s Howard University.