In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political and legal communities, the Justice Department has significantly escalated its scrutiny of New York Attorney General Letitia James, issuing subpoenas and launching a grand jury probe as part of a wider investigation into whether James violated former President Donald Trump’s civil rights. The subpoenas, delivered on August 8, 2025, demand records related to James’ high-profile lawsuit against Trump over alleged fraud in his business dealings, as well as her litigation against the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its former leader, Wayne LaPierre. According to the Associated Press and other outlets, these actions are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration’s Justice Department to examine perceived adversaries of the former president.
The investigation does not stop with James. U.S. Senator Adam Schiff of California, another frequent Trump critic, is also under the microscope, with the Justice Department pursuing mortgage fraud allegations against him. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently appointed Ed Martin as a special prosecutor to oversee both the James and Schiff probes. Martin, who leads the department’s Weaponization Working Group, has become a controversial figure, with critics accusing him of prioritizing politically motivated investigations over impartial justice.
James and Schiff have both vehemently denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the investigations as political retribution. In a statement released by her office, James’ spokesperson, Geoff Burgan, remarked, “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.”
James’ personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, went further in his condemnation, calling the subpoenas “improper” and stating, “Investigating the fraud case Attorney General James won against President Trump and his businesses has to be the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign. 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.”
The Justice Department, for its part, has declined to comment publicly on the specifics of the ongoing investigations. Spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre simply stated that the department does not discuss ongoing investigations, leaving the public and media to piece together details from court filings and statements from those involved.
The origins of the current probe trace back to James’ aggressive pursuit of Trump and his business empire. In a landmark lawsuit, James accused Trump and his companies of defrauding banks and other lenders by submitting financial statements that dramatically inflated the value of his properties, including his golf clubs and his penthouse in Trump Tower. In February 2025, James won a $454 million judgment against Trump, a decision that the former president is now appealing. Trump and his legal team have consistently argued that his financial statements actually understated his wealth, and that any discrepancies were harmless errors that had no bearing on lending decisions.
Throughout the legal battle, Trump and his allies have accused James of engaging in "lawfare"—using the courts as a political weapon against her rivals. James, a Democrat, has flatly rejected these claims, insisting that her actions are rooted in a commitment to the rule of law and the protection of New York’s citizens and institutions.
James has also made waves in her oversight of nonprofit organizations registered in New York, most notably the NRA. In a separate lawsuit, she accused the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, of financial mismanagement and misuse of organizational funds. A jury found that LaPierre had indeed misspent millions of dollars, using the money to fund an extravagant lifestyle, while the NRA itself was found to have violated whistleblower protections and failed to properly manage its assets. Although James sought to dissolve the NRA entirely—a so-called “corporate death penalty”—a judge ultimately ruled that such a drastic measure was unwarranted. LaPierre resigned from his post on the eve of the trial, and the NRA has since appointed a new board and compliance team in an effort to move past the scandal.
The recent subpoenas related to James’ litigation against both Trump and the NRA signal an intensification of efforts by the Justice Department to probe the motivations and methods of those who have challenged the former president. The timing is notable, coming as the department also advances investigations into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe that dogged Trump’s first term, and as the administration continues a sweeping purge of law enforcement officials previously involved in examining Trump and his allies.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed in May 2025 that a separate investigation into James was underway following accusations of mortgage fraud. James’ lawyer has dismissed those allegations as baseless, describing them as a deliberate misreading of documents from a lawful real estate transaction. Schiff, too, has faced similar accusations regarding a property in Maryland. His attorney, Preet Bharara—a former U.S. attorney in New York—has characterized the claims as “transparently false, stale, and long debunked.” Bharara did not mince words about the appointment of Martin as special prosecutor, stating, “Mr. Martin is a January 6-defending lawyer who has repeatedly pursued baseless and politically-motivated investigations to fulfill demands to investigate and prosecute perceived enemies. Any supposed investigation led by him would be the very definition of weaponization of the justice process.”
Critics of the Justice Department’s actions argue that the current investigations represent a dangerous precedent, blurring the line between legitimate law enforcement and political score-settling. Supporters of Trump, however, contend that figures like James and Schiff have long used their offices to target the former president and his allies, and that accountability is overdue. The resulting clash has only deepened partisan divides, with both sides accusing the other of undermining the rule of law for political gain.
For now, James, Schiff, and their attorneys remain defiant, insisting that their actions were lawful and that the investigations are nothing more than an attempt to punish them for doing their jobs. As James’ spokesperson put it, “We will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.” Trump, meanwhile, presses on with his appeal of the $454 million judgment, maintaining that he has been unfairly targeted by political opponents.
With the Justice Department’s probe still unfolding, and the stakes for all involved as high as ever, the nation watches closely. The outcome could reshape not only the careers of those at the center of the storm, but also the boundaries of political and legal conflict in America.
