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New York Attorney General Letitia James received strong backing at a rally in Lower Manhattan on Thursday night ahead of her arraignment on mortgage fraud charges. The charges, brought by the Trump administration, accuse James of using a home in Norfolk, Virginia, as a rental investment property while claiming it as her secondary residence, allegedly saving her $19,000 over the loan's life. James has declared her innocence and called the charges baseless.
Prominent figures, including Governor Kathy Hochul, Democratic mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Congressman Dan Goldman, showed their support at the rally held at Foley Square. Governor Hochul expressed concern over the implications of the charges, stating, "If they can do this to the attorney general of a state like New York, heaven help the rest of us, cause they can come after anyone."
James' legal team plans to challenge the indictment, arguing that the U.S. Attorney in Eastern Virginia who obtained it was unlawfully appointed. The attorney, Lindsey Halligan, was appointed by President Donald Trump after her predecessor was removed for questioning the evidence's strength against James and former FBI Director James Comey. James is expected to plead not guilty at her arraignment in the U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, and her legal team will seek to dismiss the charges.
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