New York Attorney General Letitia James delivered a fiery and defiant message this week, promising to continue her fight for justice despite facing federal charges that she and many others have described as politically motivated retaliation from President Donald Trump’s administration.
In a video shared widely online — reposted by television legend Donnie Simpson Sr. and advocacy group African American Policy Forum (@aapolicyforum) — James made clear that her focus remains on protecting marginalized communities, not on what she called Trump’s “pettiness.”
“My focus is not on what Donald Trump is doing to me,” James said in the clip. “I am lawyered up. My focus is on the countless number of women, particularly Black women and immigrants, who fall in my arms crying because they’re concerned they might be disappeared at night, that their families might be separated, that they’ve lost their jobs.”
James went on to highlight the devastating economic impact recent federal actions have had on minority communities.
“The vast majority of federal employees who lost their jobs look like me,” she said. “As a result, you’re seeing high foreclosure rates in Virginia, in Maryland, in D.C. What we are seeing is a loss of economic power and wealth in communities of color — and the greatest transfer of wealth ever.”
A Legal Titan Under Fire
James’ remarks come amid a political firestorm following her indictment on Oct. 9 in Alexandria, Virginia. The charges — bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution — stem from an alleged discrepancy in how she classified a mortgage loan on a Virginia property.
The indictment was brought by Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s newly appointed U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and a former personal attorney to the president. Critics have denounced the charges as part of Trump’s continued “weaponization of the Justice Department” against his perceived enemies.
James, who successfully led a civil fraud case against Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization last year, called the case against her “baseless” and “a grave violation of our constitutional order.”
In her latest public statement, she didn’t hold back — even calling for transparency in other federal matters.
“Release the Epstein files,” she demanded. “We want to know who was responsible for victimizing all of those young girls who were raped and assaulted. We will not be distracted by your pettiness.”
“We Are Winning” — A Record of Legal Victories
James reminded the audience of her record as a relentless legal force during the Trump presidency.
“We have filed collectively over 30 lawsuits and we are winning,” she said. “In the last Trump administration, we filed over 100 lawsuits and we won 80% of our cases. They’re much smarter now, and he’s got more evil people around him, but at the end of the day — evil will not win.”
Her words drew widespread praise across social media, with Simpson thanking her for “unselfishly speaking out and fighting for our democracy.”
Support and Symbolism
For many, James’ resolve embodies a larger struggle against political persecution and systemic injustice. Supporters online hailed her as a “warrior for democracy,” commending her courage to confront power despite personal risk.
James, a Brooklyn native and the first Black woman elected as New York Attorney General, has built her reputation on standing up to corruption — whether in the corporate boardroom or the political arena.
Her message of perseverance resonated with many Americans who view her case as a litmus test for the independence of the U.S. justice system.
“I’m going to continue to use the law both as a sword and as a shield,” she affirmed. “Evil will not win.”
