Ithaca, NY – Assemblymember Anna R. Kelles (D–Ithaca) today issued the following statement in strong defense of New York Attorney General Letitia James following her indictment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia:

“Attorney General Tish James is a brilliant, courageous, and deeply principled public servant who has spent her career defending New Yorkers against corruption, fraud, and abuse of power, no matter how powerful the perpetrator.

The federal charges brought against her are a political attack, not a legal case. They are part of a disturbing and unprecedented campaign to weaponize the Department of Justice to punish those who have had the integrity to hold the most powerful accountable.

This abuse of power became clear when career prosecutors in Virginia found no evidence to support charges and refused to move forward. They were forced out and replaced by political loyalists with little or no prosecutorial experience, who quickly filed the same baseless charges their predecessors had rejected.

The claim used to justify this prosecution, minor inconsistencies in mortgage paperwork, is embarrassing and made even more baseless by the inconsistency in its application. Many federal officials have made similar filings without facing investigation or charges. Selectively enforcing technicalities against political opponents damages the credibility of the entire justice system.

This administration has targeted critics, threatened to deny back pay to furloughed federal workers, and filled independent posts with partisan loyalists. These actions collectively erode constitutional checks and balances and weaponize federal power against dissent and justice.

Attorney General James has stood up to corporate greed, defended consumers, and exposed systemic fraud. Her work has protected countless New Yorkers and strengthened public trust in the rule of law. She is now being targeted precisely because of that courage.

I stand firmly with her, and with every public servant who refuses to bow to political intimidation. The rule of law must never be twisted into a weapon of retribution.”

Background:

Attorney General Letitia James has long been recognized for her commitment to integrity and accountability. Her enforcement actions have recovered billions of dollars for taxpayers and consumers, strengthened oversight of corporate and financial misconduct, and set a national example for independent state-level prosecution. The current charges against her rely on a technical mortgage interpretation that has never before been treated as a criminal offense. Legal experts across the country have consistently affirmed that such issues are typically resolved through administrative clarification, not prosecution.