New York’s attorney general accused Donald Trump of using the justice system for “revenge” as she pleaded not guilty to mortgage fraud charges.
Letitia James, a Democrat and longtime critic of the US president, appeared in court today accused of lying on mortgage documents.
Ms James, who last year secured a $450m (£338m) civil fraud judgment against Mr Trump, pleaded not guilty before giving a passionate speech to crowds and members of the media as she left the court.
The attorney general, who Mr Trump had previously demanded be prosecuted, said: “This is not about me.
“This is about all of us. About a justice system which has been weaponised. A justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge.”
‘There’s no fear today’
As the crowd shouted “no fear”, she said: “So there’s no fear today.
“I believe our justice system will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Mr Trump has promised to seek retribution against perceived enemies he alleges used the justice system against him in a bid to stop him returning to power.
He has pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi to speed up the action.
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Former FBI director, James Comey, and former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, have also had criminal charges brought against them from the Trump administration in the past month. All three have denied wrongdoing.
Two more Mr Trump rivals, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Board Governor, Lisa Cook, also remain under criminal investigation and have denied wrongdoing.
Ms James successfully won the $450m penalty against Mr Trump after a judge ruled he had fraudulently overstated his net worth to dupe lenders.
A New York state appeals court in August threw out the penalty, but upheld the trial judge’s finding that Mr Trump was liable for fraud.
A trial for Ms James has been set for 26 January 2026.
