New York Attorney General Letitia James, long viewed as one of Donald Trump’s most formidable adversaries, now finds herself at the center of another controversial ousting at the Department of Justice.
Two senior federal prosecutors, Elizabeth Yusi and Kristin Bird, have been fired after reportedly refusing to pursue criminal charges against James. Their dismissals came directly from Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer newly installed as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — a district traditionally known for its independence and for handling some of America’s most sensitive national security and corruption cases.
A Legal Offensive Wrapped in Politics
According to ABC News, Yusi and Bird’s removals were explicitly tied to their opposition to charging James. Internal investigators had concluded earlier this year that “no evidence met the probable cause standard” to justify an indictment on alleged bank fraud and false statement charges.
But Halligan, appointed just weeks ago after multiple career prosecutors resigned or were removed, overrode that determination and moved forward without the support of her own office. A grand jury, convened under her supervision, indicted James on Oct. 9 on two counts of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution.
James has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, calling the prosecution a “politically motivated act of retaliation” and warning that it represents a dangerous weaponization of federal law enforcement.
“This is not justice, it’s political payback,” James said through a spokesperson. “The rule of law is being twisted to serve one man’s vengeance.”
Her arraignment is scheduled for next Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.
A Purge Inside the DOJ
The firings of Yusi and Bird are the latest in a string of dismissals within the Eastern District of Virginia, including former interim U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert and top national security prosecutor Michael Ben’Ary, all reportedly tied to their resistance to pursuing politically charged cases targeting Trump’s perceived enemies.
Multiple Justice Department insiders described the climate inside the office as “untenable” and “politically radioactive.” Several career officials have either resigned or been reassigned in recent weeks, citing what they called an erosion of prosecutorial independence.
“This looks like a hostile takeover of one of the most respected federal prosecutor’s offices in the country,” said a retired federal judge familiar with the district’s history. “When prosecutors are fired for refusing to charge someone without evidence, that’s not justice — that’s authoritarianism in real time.”
The Stakes for Letitia James — and Democracy
Letitia James, who successfully led the civil fraud case against Donald Trump in New York that resulted in a $454 million judgment earlier this year, has become a lightning rod for MAGA loyalists. Her aggressive pursuit of Trump’s business empire cemented her reputation as a fearless prosecutor, but also made her a prime target of retribution in Trump’s political circles.
Now, with a Trump-aligned prosecutor spearheading her criminal case, many observers warn that the line between law and politics has all but evaporated.
The case also underscores growing fears that Project 2025, the right-wing policy blueprint to consolidate executive power, is being informally enacted even before a potential Trump return to office. Replacing career prosecutors with political loyalists, experts say, is a hallmark of that strategy.
“If a U.S. Attorney can be installed to punish political enemies, we’ve crossed a constitutional Rubicon,” said one constitutional scholar. “Today it’s Letitia James. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to stand up to power.”
A Test of Judicial Integrity
The Justice Department has not commented publicly on the firings or the ongoing case.
A spokesperson for the Eastern District of Virginia declined to answer questions about whether the indictment was reviewed or approved by senior DOJ leadership in Washington.
As one legal analyst observed bluntly, “If this stands, the message is clear — prosecute Trump, and the system will come for you next.”
