New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty Friday to two federal charges related to her purchase of a Virginia property more than five years ago.
James, appearing upbeat as she entered the courtroom in Norfolk, Va., spoke briefly during the arraignment before U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker. When asked if she understood her rights, the 67-year-old Democrat replied, “Yes,” and later responded, “Not guilty, judge, to both counts,” when prompted by her attorney, Abbe Lowell.
Following the hearing, James delivered short public remarks outside the courthouse, pledging to “not be deterred” as she faces the federal case. In her statement, she invoked elements of Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, drawing attention from onlookers and critics alike, the New York Post reported on Friday.
James did not directly address the charges or proclaim her innocence.
“I believe that justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream,” she told supporters who chanted “We Stand With Tish!” and “No Fear!” — a conscious reference to MLK’s line: “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
James was indicted on October 9 by a federal grand jury on one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution. The charges were filed by interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.
If convicted on both counts, the New York attorney general could face a maximum sentence of 60 years in federal prison and fines totaling up to $2 million, The Post noted.
According to court filings, the long-time Donald Trump nemesis purchased a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home on Peronne Avenue in Norfolk, on August 17, 2020, using a $109,600 loan. The mortgage documents included a second-home rider identifying James as the “sole borrower to occupy and use the property.”
Prosecutors allege that this statement enabled James to secure more favorable loan terms, providing her with an estimated financial benefit of nearly $19,000.
Prosecutors allege that James never lived in the Norfolk property, claiming instead that it was used as a rental investment home for her grandniece, Nakia Thompson.
During Friday’s 30-minute hearing, both James and Lowell responded confidently to procedural questions from U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker, a Biden appointee. The judge released James on a personal recognizance bond and scheduled her trial to begin on January 26, 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Keller, who was transferred from the Eastern District of Missouri to lead the prosecution, told the court that the government plans to call up to 10 witnesses.
James’s defense team has already indicated plans to challenge the case on procedural grounds, arguing in court filings that Halligan was unlawfully appointed by President Trump following the resignation of former Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney Erik Seibert.
Some defense attorneys are expected to argue that the case represents a “vindictive prosecution,” citing Halligan’s previous role as an attorney for Trump. They also claim Halligan improperly communicated with members of the media during the investigation.
During the hearing, Lowell drew Walker’s attention to a Lawfare article published Monday, suggesting it raised concerns about Halligan making “extrajudicial statements” to the press. Lowell stopped short of seeking sanctions but noted the potential ethical issue.
According to filings, Halligan contacted Lawfare senior editor Anna Bower to dispute aspects of a New York Times report stating that James’s grandniece, Nakia Thompson, had testified before a grand jury that she never paid rent on the Norfolk property and that James visited several times a year.
Lowell and Keller later sparred over the defense’s assertion that Halligan was required to maintain a record of all communications with the media.
“If we’re going to do one for the government,” Keller suggested, one should also be kept for James — who has frequently defended herself on social media and in the press.
