BOMBSHELL: Hochul Blasts ‘Weaponization’ After AG James Indictment
NEW YORK — The political landscape of New York was rocked to its core Thursday when New York Attorney General Letitia James, a prominent legal adversary of President Donald Trump, was indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges, including bank fraud.
In a stunning and immediate response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul leapt to James’ defense, unleashing a blistering attack on federal prosecutors and the Justice Department, calling the move a “weaponization” of the legal system for political ends.
Hochul, a fellow Democrat, made her position crystal clear on social media. “New Yorkers know [Letitia James] for her integrity, her independence, and her relentless fight for justice,” Hochul wrote. “What we’re seeing today is nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.”
The indictment of James, who successfully pursued a high-profile civil fraud case against the former President and his company, immediately drew accusations of political retribution and a “continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system” from James herself.
An Unprecedented Political Crisis
The dramatic charges against the state’s top law enforcement official have plunged New York politics into a crisis and intensified the national debate over the politicization of the Justice Department.
The indictment marks the latest instance of a Trump foe facing prosecution by the administration’s Justice Department. Critics, including both James and Hochul, point to the timing and context of the charges, claiming they are a blatant attempt to silence a political opponent. James’ allies have also highlighted the swift firing and replacement of a U.S. Attorney who reportedly refused to bring charges against her, suggesting a direct link between the White House and the prosecution.
Governor Hochul’s full-throated defense signals a defiant stance from New York’s top Democrat, framing the indictment as an assault on the state’s independent pursuit of justice.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has vehemently denied the charges, calling them “baseless.” If convicted, James could face up to 30 years in prison per count.
