The pursuit of New York Attorney General Letitia James by the Trump administration continues unabated, despite a string of legal setbacks. A federal judge and two grand juries have already dismissed previous attempts to prosecute her, yet allegations and investigations persist, stirring considerable public interest and debate.
Recently, federal prosecutors have shifted their focus to scrutinizing James’s financial transactions, specifically those involving her longtime hairdresser. This move marks yet another chapter in a saga that intertwines legal battles with what many perceive as political vendetta. The investigation aims to explore connections tied to Iyesata Marsh, who has faced multiple criminal charges in Louisiana for bank fraud and identity theft.
According to reports from The New York Times, the Department of Justice is particularly interested in the financial dealings from James’s 2018 campaign, which paid Marsh for the rental of a Brooklyn studio she owns. Officials are also examining payments related to musical performances arranged for political events. Despite these inquiries, it’s important to note that James has not been accused of any wrongdoing regarding these transactions.
James’s attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, has vehemently criticized these investigations, labeling them as a continuation of President Trump’s political vendetta. Lowell argued that the DOJ is attempting to leverage Marsh’s criminal activities as a method to target James, saying, “This attack on Ms. James is doomed to fail.” The attorney emphasized that this campaign is not rooted in legitimate legal concerns but rather in desperation from those aligned with Trump.
President Trump’s grievances against Letitia James are deeply rooted. As New York’s chief prosecutor, she has spearheaded significant legal actions against him, most notably a successful lawsuit that ruled Trump liable for grossly inflating his net worth. This has undoubtedly fueled Trump’s animosity toward James, leading him to seek various avenues of retribution. However, the prosecution’s attempts to accuse her of mortgage fraud have consistently fizzled out, with legal authorities dismissing the claims as unfounded.
In late 2025, a pivotal moment occurred when a federal judge dismissed criminal charges against James, citing that the prosecutor chosen by Trump was unlawfully appointed. Shortly thereafter, two separate grand juries opted not to indict her on the fraud allegations, signaling a clear legal rebuke of the administration’s efforts. Most recently, a ruling by a judge disqualified a Trump-appointed prosecutor from involvement in further investigations against James, reinforcing the belief that these pursuits lack legal grounding.
Political analysts have described the ongoing investigations as a “revenge-driven fishing expedition.” Anthony Coley, a former official within the DOJ during the Biden administration, commented that the judicial system has recognized these efforts as politically motivated rather than focused on lawful facts. He expressed confidence that the current investigation will meet a similar fate as its predecessors, collapsing under scrutiny.