FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OAKLAND, CA – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 22 other state attorneys general and the District of Columbia in issuing a strong joint statement condemning what they describe as retaliatory prosecution efforts by the Trump administration against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The unprecedented action by the state-led coalition underscores deep concerns about the integrity of the American justice system and the potential for political retribution to interfere with the duties of chief legal officers.
A United Front Against Perceived Abuse of Power
The joint statement, released on October 13, 2025, unequivocally denounces the alleged “retaliatory prosecution” of Attorney General James. “We resoundingly denounce the Trump administration’s retaliatory prosecution of our colleague, New York Attorney General Letitia James,” the attorneys general declared. The coalition explicitly links these actions to a New York State judge’s finding that Donald Trump was liable for years of business fraud and illegal dealings in a case spearheaded by Attorney General James. According to the statement, Mr. Trump had “repeatedly broadcast his desire to arrest and prosecute her” following this judgment. The group asserts that such demands for indictment, even after a U.S. Attorney resigned rather than pursue them, are not indicative of American democracy but rather “hallmarks of police states and authoritarian regimes.”
The coalition includes the top legal officials from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, alongside the District of Columbia. Their collective voice signals a significant pushback against what they perceive as the weaponization of the criminal legal system for personal or political vendettas.
The Underlying Case and Allegations Against AG James
The controversy ignited following a civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. James’s office accused the organization of fraudulently inflating the value of its assets to secure more favorable loan terms. After a trial, a New York State judge found Trump and his companies liable for fraud, ordering penalties that included significant financial disgorgement.
Shortly after this judgment, reports emerged of a federal indictment against Attorney General James in Virginia. The charges, brought by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, include one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution. Prosecutors allege these charges stem from a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia, where James purportedly misrepresented the property’s intended use—claiming it as a “second home” to secure more favorable loan terms, which allegedly saved her approximately $19,000 over the life of the mortgage, while instead using it as a rental property.
Claims of Political Motivation and Retaliation
Both Attorney General James and the coalition of state attorneys general have vehemently argued that the indictment is politically motivated and serves as retaliation for James’s successful pursuit of claims against Donald Trump. James herself has called the charges “baseless” and a “continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system”.
The statement from the coalition highlights several points supporting their view of political motivation. Notably, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, reportedly resigned because he refused to seek an indictment against James, citing weak evidence. He was subsequently replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump attorney and White House aide, who then presented the case to a grand jury.
The attorneys general also pointed to a pattern of “politically motivated pursuits” allegedly directed by the Trump administration’s executive branch. These include the arrest of a sitting member of Congress, charges brought against former FBI Director James Comey, and investigations into a Federal Reserve governor, all cited as examples of the use of the criminal legal system for personal or political objectives.
Upholding Justice and Democratic Principles
The coalition’s statement emphasizes their commitment to the rule of law and the principles of American democracy. “None of us, whether our states’ top legal officials or members of the public, should stand idly by while justice is upended and this president uses the criminal legal system to pursue his personal vendettas,” the statement reads. They expressed solidarity with Attorney General James and others who they believe have been targeted for reasons “wholly antithetical to the pursuit of justice.” The group pledges to “do all we can to ensure that the rule of law prevails and to resist the further corrosion of our system of justice”.
This coordinated stance by numerous state attorneys general signals a profound concern over the erosion of prosecutorial independence and the potential for political influence to undermine the justice system. As this news unfolds, the action highlights a critical debate over the boundaries between political power and the impartial administration of justice in the United States.
