DOJ Launches Probe Into NY Attorney General’s Office Over Trump, NRA Lawsuits

Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of New York have opened an investigation into the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a high-profile civil fraud case against President Donald Trump, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke with NBC Friday.

The inquiry is examining whether James’ office abused its authority and violated Trump’s legal rights through its civil lawsuits against him and his businesses. Prosecutors are also looking into whether similar rights violations occurred in her civil litigation against the National Rifle Association, sources said. Two of those sources confirmed the investigation is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.

In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for James’ office said: “Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American. We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not comment.

James, a Democrat, successfully sued Trump and his company for allegedly inflating his wealth in financial statements, winning a $300 million judgment that is now under appeal. She also pursued the NRA and its leadership, although a judge dismissed her attempt to dissolve the organization.

In 2024, her office did win a civil fraud case against longtime NRA leader Wayne LaPierre, with a jury finding he diverted millions of dollars from the group for personal use.

It remains unclear how far along the DOJ’s probe into James’ office is or what evidence has been collected.

James’ attorney, Abbe Lowell, called the investigation into her fraud case against Trump and his businesses “the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign,” adding: “Weaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected official for doing her job is an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration.”

This is at least the second federal investigation into James under the Trump administration. Earlier this year, the Justice Department and FBI began a criminal inquiry into allegations that she made false statements on mortgage applications. Lowell described those as clerical errors in an April letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and said other records contained the correct information. He dismissed the allegations as “the next salvo in President Trump’s revenge tour against Attorney General James.”

James has frequently clashed with Trump, challenging his policies since his first term and leading multiple lawsuits against his administration. In 2021, Trump sued to block her fraud investigation, accusing her of political bias and “viewpoint discrimination.” He later dropped the lawsuit but has continued to criticize her publicly, including an April Truth Social post labeling her a “wacky” and “totally corrupt politician” who should resign.