Trump's Justice Department launches criminal probe into Letitia James, multiple sources say
CBS1 day
Reports: FBI Launches Criminal Probe Into NY Attorney General James
Above: New York Attorney General Letitia James hosts a town hall on May 8, 2025. Image copyright: Spencer Platt/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
This investigation is a critical step toward accountability and exposing corruption in New York's leadership. James appears to have committed the same type of fraud she prosecuted others for, falsifying documents to secure financial benefits she wasn't entitled to receive. The evidence suggests a clear pattern of deception spanning multiple properties and years.
Democratic narrative
These allegations are politically motivated retaliation orchestrated by Trump and his allies, seeking revenge for the successful civil fraud case against the president. The supposed discrepancies in mortgage documents were simple paperwork errors that have been thoroughly explained, and the timing of this investigation reveals its true dangerous, partisan nature.