Letitia James indictment: How Trump goes after one other political opponent

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Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump efficiently directed the indictment of one other of his private political enemies, New York state Lawyer Common Letitia James.

What occurred? James was indicted for financial institution fraud on Thursday in Virginia, the place she owns a trip dwelling. She had been underneath federal investigation for mortgage fraud in reference to that dwelling, however investigators had beforehand been unable to search out proof that she dedicated against the law.

Why was James indicted? As a result of Donald Trump needed her to be. The previous US legal professional for the Japanese District of Virginia declined to carry expenses towards James and was pressured out late final month. Subsequently, Trump put in Lindsey Halligan, beforehand his private lawyer, as US legal professional.

Halligan was expressly chosen to focus on Trump enemies; in a September social media submit addressed to Lawyer Common Pam Bondi, Trump wrote, “What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all responsible as hell, however nothing goes to be completed. … JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

Since then, former FBI director James Comey and Letitia James have each been indicted.

What’s Trump’s historical past with James? In 2022, James sued Trump, three of his kids, and his household enterprise on behalf of New York state, alleging widespread fraud; he was discovered responsible by a choose in 2023 and assigned a $500 million penalty, amongst different punishments. The penalty has since been voided and continues to be underneath litigation.

What’s the context? Invoice Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Company director who has grow to be one in every of Trump’s top attack dogs , has helped dredge up flimsy mortgage fraud allegations towards various Trump opponents, together with James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook dinner.

Trump had tried to make use of these allegations as a pretext to take away Cook dinner from the Fed board, although she has not been criminally charged; right now’s indictment is an alarming escalation in how Trump intends to wield such accusations.

And with that, it’s time to log out…

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