The US justice department has filed a subpoena ordering New York Attorney General Letitia James to testify about her civil fraud investigation into President Donald Trump, sources have told US media.
James won a civil case against Trump in 2023 – before he returned to office – that accused him of overvaluing his properties in order to take out loans with favourable terms. He is currently appealing against the judgment.
No charges have been filed against James. Both her office and Trump argue the other has abused their investigative powers.
James’ office has also received another subpoena regarding her investigation of the National Rifle Association, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
The investigation into James is being led by the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, CBS reports.
The New York Attorney General’s office hit back at the investigation into the state’s top law enforcement official.
“Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American,” the office said in a statement.
“We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.”
Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for James, also released a statement, saying that retaliating against James for investigating Trump’s business is “the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign”.
The justice department has not publicly commented on the subpoenas.
In April, the justice department accused James of mortgage fraud and pressed prosecutors to file criminal charges against her. No charges have yet been filed.
Trump’s family business was found liable in 2023 of falsifying records and financial statements in order to get better terms on loans and insurance deals.
In the case brought by James, a judge ruled that the Trump Organization was liable for overvaluing a penthouse at Trump Tower in New York by claiming that it was three times its actual size, among other allegations.
Trump was ordered to pay more than $350m (£264m) in damages in the civil fraud case, which is currently going through the appeals process. During the case, Trump frequently attacked James when speaking to media outside of the courtroom, calling her “biased and corrupt”.
Trump was criminally convicted for falsifying business records in a separate case. Last year, he was found guilty on 34 counts for fraudulently classifying reimbursements for a hush-money payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.
During his campaign, Trump promised to seek revenge against many of his perceived political enemies – including former President Joe Biden – and others who have opposed him.
He has fired prosecutors who pursued cases against the pro-Trump protesters who stormed the Capitol after his loss to Biden, and appointed loyalists to top positions in the Department of Justice.
Last week, federal officials opened an investigation into Jack Smith, who was appointed as special counsel in 2022 to investigate Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and his alleged attempt to interfere in the 2020 election.
By BBC News
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