Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, marking a dramatic escalation in the political feud between President Donald Trump and one of his most outspoken critics.
The Justice Department, now under Bondi’s leadership, is looking into whether James violated federal law by allegedly abusing her office to target Trump. A grand jury has been convened in the Northern District of New York, and subpoenas have already gone out, according to sources who spoke with The Daily Beast.
The investigation centers on a charge known as “deprivation of rights,” which involves a public official using their power to violate someone’s constitutional rights. Federal investigators are reportedly focused on whether James crossed a legal line by running for office with the stated goal of taking down Trump.
James has been a thorn in Trump’s side since she first ran for New York AG in 2018, promising to hold him accountable. In 2022, she filed a civil fraud suit against him, accusing him of inflating his business assets to secure favorable loans and insurance. That case ended with Trump being fined over $300 million — a ruling he’s currently appealing.
Throughout, Trump has maintained his innocence and painted James’ efforts as politically motivated. “She’s a horrible, horrible human being, and I think she’s a total crook, there’s no question about it—but that’s just my opinion,” Trump said earlier this year.
Now, James finds herself under the microscope. The federal probe is being led by U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, a Trump ally who was installed via a DOJ workaround after federal judges initially declined to approve his appointment. He now serves as a “special attorney to the Attorney General,” giving him similar powers without needing Senate confirmation.
This isn’t the first time the Bondi DOJ has zeroed in on James. Back in May, investigators opened another criminal inquiry into whether she lied on mortgage documents to get better rates. The case stemmed from a referral by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who accused James of fraudulently claiming a Virginia property she bought with her niece in 2023 would be her primary residence.
James’ lawyer, Abbe Lowell, blasted the investigation at the time, calling it “improper political retaliation … publicly instigated and endorsed by President Trump.”
The DOJ is also said to be reviewing James’ aggressive — though ultimately unsuccessful — attempt to dissolve the National Rifle Association. While she didn’t shut down the gun rights group, she did secure a civil fraud judgment against longtime NRA boss Wayne LaPierre, who was found to have used millions in donor funds for personal luxuries.
Bondi herself has faced political backlash lately, including criticism from within the MAGA movement over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. But this move against James may rally conservative support — even as it raises serious questions about whether the Justice Department is being used to settle political scores.
