Letitia James
Appearances
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-23-2025 7PM EST
It represents justice. for untold victims who suffered because the Sacklers basically put profits over people.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
So let me just say that, you know, I live in my beloved Brooklyn and individuals come up to me each and every day who I hold in my arms who are crying, just afraid of our government. Individuals who are concerned about their loved ones not coming home. Individuals who are afraid to take their child to school, to go to the doctor, to even go into a courthouse.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Individuals who have been witnesses to horrific crimes. And obviously I'm concerned about our government, but it's going to take all of us moving in the same direction to stand up and to defend this democracy, not just democratic attorneys general, but regular citizens and other elected officials. That's what we have got to do. And as an attorney general who believes in the law,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
I'm joining with other attorneys general. I'm joining with the minority leader. I'm joining with members in the United States Senate. And we were hosting town hall meetings. We had one just recently in Arizona. We are hosting another one very soon in Minnesota, which will be led by Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
There'll be one in Connecticut, one in Vermont, and I will be hosting one in New York. We need to tell the stories of individuals who have lost their job. We need to let people know that this administration is a threat to our security, a threat to everything that we believe in, a threat to our values and our principles.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And we need to stand up and we need to, again, speak out loudly and clearly and tell the stories. tell the stories and let people know that this, too, is our country. And by God, I was going to curse, but I won't curse.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Thank you. I appreciate you.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
I took an oath to the constitution and not to the king. And that's what we are doing each and every day. It was not my intention to resist.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
But it is my intention, obviously, to ensure that the rights and privileges of New Yorkers are respected and to use the law both as a sword and as a shield, particularly to protect vulnerable and marginalized populations and individuals who tell me their stories each and every day about losing their job, individuals who are afraid about Social Security, individuals who are veterans, law enforcement individuals, and people who are afraid
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Listen, when Donald Trump ran for office, he promised Americans that he would lower the cost of eggs and consumer products. He indicated that he would stop the war, bring peace in the war for Ukraine. He would stand up. and bring peace to that situation. He would end the conflict in Israel and Gaza. He said a whole bunch of things.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
He said our markets obviously would be strong and that we would, and he would make America first. And nothing could be further from the truth. Elon Musk has said it's all about corruption and waste and fraud. They've indicated that individuals who are over 100 and some odd years are getting Social Security. It's just lies. Americans were duped. They fell for it.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Yeah, so first of all, thank you so much for allowing me to be on your podcast. I really appreciate it. You know, listen, we brought the case against Donald Trump, who was then a civilian, because he inflated his assets for the purposes of taking advantage of low interest rates and insurance rates. You know, he engaged in this pattern and practice of illegality.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And the reality is, is that we're looking at Trump. We're looking at inflation. We're looking at the price of eggs go up. Our markets have been falling today. The reality is, is that he has befriended Putin. He has weakened NATO and he has abandoned Ukraine. because he supports and he likes strongmen. It's all a bunch of lies.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And then, you know, he believes in a Unitarian type of government where all of the power is in his hands and not democracy. And so our system of government, the power of the purse belongs to Congress, and he is attempting to ignore that. He's calling upon members of the judiciary, saying that he is going to I bring them up on charges and try to, you know, go after these judges.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
He has an enemies list. I'm on it and other individuals who are standing up to him. At the end of the day, it's important that individuals understand that they cannot be afraid, that this type of government, authoritarian government requires cooperation and consent. But democracy, my friends, requires courage.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And so I urge everyone to stand up and tap some steel in their back, including Republican members of Congress, and to let him know that there's more of us than there are of those in the White House, and that we together, unified, are more powerful than he is. And so that's why I'm urging everyone to raise their voice,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Attorneys General, you know, we've organized and we prepared and we anticipated the possibility of a Trump administration. You know, we stood up to him during Trump one, and now we are much more coordinated and organized. We've analyzed Project 2025, again, something that he said he knew nothing about, but this is straight out of Project 2025.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
we've analyzed circuits all throughout this country we've analyzed jurisdiction venue and that's why after the birthright citizenship that executive order we were able to file suit within 48 hours we've continued to knock it out of the box and we are winning winning winning because again we believe in the rule of law we believe in the constitution
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And we believe that the power of the purse belongs to Congress and not the president of the United States. And he cannot, with the stroke of a pen, or should I say Sharpie, basically ignore or dismiss or dismantle the rule of government. You've got to respect Congress and you've got to respect the Constitution and you've got to respect the constitutional order of our system.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And that's what we do each and every day. Nothing more and nothing less.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
So the first case was birthright citizenship, which is in our 14th amendment, enshrined in the 14th amendment. And so he issued an executive order. And again, within 48 hours, we were able to get a temporary restraining order and then ultimately a preliminary injunction. Then he issued an executive order on behalf of OMB, the Office of Management and Budget, basically freezing funds
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And it was following a two-year investigation after hearing individuals' witnesses before a hearing. And so he would like to allege that it was politics, but it really wasn't. It was based on facts and the rule of law. And so we were able to secure a summary judgment. And then after a hearing, we secured a judgment and the interest rate continued to go up
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
for a wide range of essential services all throughout the United States, including Meals on Wheels, Head Start, Social Security program initiatives and grants to veterans and law enforcement agents. All of these essential and critical services he sought to pause, again, because he wanted these agencies to to comply with his wishes.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And we were able to get a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction. Then we filed a case against the Treasury Department because Elon Musk and his ban of engineers gained access to our very private and sensitive information, our social security numbers, our insurance information, and our addresses, and we were able, we were successful there.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
A number of agencies, including USAID, including Department of Defense, all of the federal agencies, we were able to get a preliminary injunction with respect to those cases. NIH, the National Institute of Health, was his other executive order, going after
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
um these institutions here in the state of new york some suny colleges who engage in groundbreaking groundbreaking expertise and groundbreaking scientific research to find cures to cancer and to find cures to parkinson's and heart disease and these
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
agencies, National Institute of Health gives grants to the University of Albany, the University of Buffalo, Stony Brook, and these are economic engines within these respective towns. We were able to get an executive order, we were able to get a temporary restraining order, and then we were able to get a preliminary injunction.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Then he filed an action against employees, probationary employees, and the law requires that the states be given 60 days notice, and they violated that. Again, executive order, and they dismissed, and they fired all these individuals. Again, we were successful. in court and getting a temporary restraining order and a hearing on that case is on Thursday.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
There was a case with regards to grants for teachers to teach underserved communities and rural communities all throughout the state of New York and all around this country. And we, again, were able to seek a TRO, and that hearing is also on Thursday as well. We've also issued guidances to law enforcement and to hospitals that serve the LGBTQ community, again, focusing on gender-affirming care.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
So the list goes on and on and on. Whenever he issues an executive order, it's the blue wall of defense, the attorneys general all across this country who responded in record time defending the rights of individuals, defending the rule of law and standing up for our democracy and for our freedom. And we'll continue to do that even with their threats and even
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
you know with all of their um you know the fact that they throw everything against the wall and see what's going to stick you know attorneys general um we're prepared to respond in record time what do you think of when uh you know given all of your legal experience and leading the top legal office in the state of new york when uh trump's doj lawyers
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And we are awaiting at this point in time a decision from the appellate division of the state of New York. And now what he is doing is causing more chaos, confusion and contempt, contempt for the law, contempt for individuals who work each and every day to serve our government, contempt for Congress.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Listen, we've got the Administrative Procedure Act and most of the times they come into court and the decisions and the executive orders are arbitrary, they're capricious, they're not grounded in fact and draw the law. And there's just no evidence to substantiate what they are attempting to do. This is an attempt to remake government. That's what it is.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
It's an attempt to remake our form of democracy and to turn this into an autocratic government, a unitarian type of government. And we've got to stand up and we've got to fight back. You know, a lot of the members of DOJ, like Danielle Sassoon, who submitted her resume at DOJ, you know, they're heroes and cheeros, individuals who stood up and said, we took an oath.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And a lot of the actions that this administration has taken is basically in violation of the law. And so I salute her for their courage. I salute them because they represent, in my mind, they are you know, individuals who were brave. And she, you know, led so many other like-minded members of DOJ, like-minded US attorneys who said, we just are not going to violate our code of ethics.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
We're gonna follow the law. And we are going to depart from the Department of Justice. And it's unfortunate that more individuals in the Department of Justice don't do the same and just exit the Department of Justice. Because again, we all took an oath not to a king, but to the Constitution. And it's up to us to defend that right.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
And that's what we do here in the New York State Attorney General's office. And that's what so many other Democratic Attorney Generals do each and every day in their respective offices. And it's an honor and a privilege to serve with them.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
So let me just say that you can't deport individuals simply because you disagree with their political philosophies or their ideology. You know, basically detaining and arresting someone in the middle of the night without due process just violates the Constitution and due process requires that he have a hearing. And that hearing will determine whether or not he has in fact violated
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
Republican members have just rolled over and allowed Elon Dusk and his musketeers, obviously, to gain access to our private and personal information. He's throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. And it's basically a brazen attack on a democratic system of government. And so I've got a duty and obligation to defend the rule of law.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
a rule of law, a section of law, whether or not he's violated the terms of his permanent citizenship. And I just will allow the system of government and the system to work its course. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday and we await the decision, but I suspect at the end of the day that
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Cases Against Trump
by detaining someone, by arresting someone, by not providing them with due process runs afoul of our system of government.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And the list goes on and on and on, protecting seniors against the closing of social security offices and making sure that offices are fully staffed so that they could provide an address and respond to the needs of New Yorkers and Americans. Government is not the demon. Government is there to serve the public.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And it's really critically important that unfortunately, this administration, the federal administration, has turned government on its head and made it an enemy of the state. It is not. I entered into public service because I recognize the powers of government. And that government should be there. And it is and has always been a force for good.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And for those reasons, I am defending the United States government, defending them against these illegal and unlawful acts by this president.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Thank you and congratulations on your, you've got the, listen, the Webby Award. Absolutely amazing. Podcaster of the Year. Go, Ben! Yay!
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
So it's important, President Trump, that you understand and recognize that because we realize that obviously you want to follow the law, but you have to exercise due process.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
We've been busy. You know, this is not the outcome that we wanted. But this is the outcome that's before us. And so prior to Election Day, we decided to get ready. And so a number of Democratic attorneys general, we analyzed Project 2025 because that is his playbook, their playbook. We analyze jurisdiction and venue and standing and causes of actions and claims and defenses and our constitution.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And so on day one, the first EO regarding birthright citizenship, which, as you know, is in the 14th Amendment, within 48 hours, we responded. And we've responded ever since. As of right now, I have been involved in 15 lawsuits. We've led quite a few. amicus briefs, amici briefs. We've also issued guidance letters. We've done a number of Know Your Rights training courses and classes.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And we've responded to the fears and to the needs of New Yorkers, obviously, who are just concerned about all the chaos and confusion that they are witnessing, not only in New York, but across this state.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
So he's going after Haitians and Venezuelans, individuals who fled violence, individuals who were victims of political prosecution, individuals who were just concerned about their own personal safety. And so they came to this country seeking temporary protective status. And now that program,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
The president of the United States seeks to eliminate it, notwithstanding the fact that in Haiti, they are still in the midst of a civil war and countless number of individuals, unfortunately, are being subjected to violence. There are individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, Venezuelans and Haitians who are fleeing the country because they are being, you know,
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Oh, Ben, that's not fair. Come on. Listen, it's, well, I have to give him an A for coming in and renovating Penn Station. That's a good thing. And so I wish he would do more of that and then he and I would be of, you know, on common ground. So, yeah.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
There are individuals who have come to this country, obviously fleeing violence, looking for a better opportunity and just wanna be a part of the fabric of our country and wanna contribute so much to our country. But unfortunately right now, they're not going to school, they're not going to work, they're not going to our courthouses.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Individuals who have witnessed crimes, individuals who are victims of domestic violence are not going to our courts to get orders of protection. because they are fearful, fearful that they will be deported to a country that they do not know, a country which unfortunately, individuals that are in the midst of violence and disarray, and there's no infrastructure whatsoever.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And so it's really critically important that we put in place
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
There are individuals who are fleeing gangs, who do not want to be a part of gangs, and who need the protection of these United States because what they want to do is just contribute to the fabric of this country, contribute to the economy, work each and every day, go to church each and every day, want the same thing that you and I want, and that is to live in a community where they can uphold the law and respect all of the laws
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
of this great country and our respective state.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Yeah, it has a chilling effect on immigrants, again, who are witnesses to violent crimes, not only here in New York, but all across this country. It's also important to understand that if in fact they had an issue with how the judge handled the matter, they should have brought it up before the judicial committee that oversees the behavior, supervises the behavior of judges.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
There's a disciplinary committee. that's responsible for judges. That's where it should have been handled as opposed to arresting a judge who was basically engaging in, you know, administering her courtroom and making sure that there was no chaos and confusion in her courtroom.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
It's also important to note that as the, you know, we see the facts that the ICE agents had an administrative warrant as opposed to a judicial warrant. And so This administrative warrant did not have the force of an arrest. I believe they were just there to question the individual, perhaps take him into custody at some point in time.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
But there was no requirement that the judge immediately hand over that individual. And so to avoid chaos in her courtroom, you know, she allowed the individual to exit. A side door where the ICE agents were did affect an arrest of the individual.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
But again, if they had a problem with how the judge handled it, they should have filed a complaint with the appropriate authorities as opposed to arresting a judge who has consistently and repeatedly followed the law.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
I haven't seen you in a while. Five million. For $5 million, this could be yours. That was the first of the cards. You know what that card is?
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Definitely. Definitely. Now, I'm not sure about renaming it after him, but certainly renovating it is a great idea to save money for taxpayers in the great state of New York. But at the same time, one, he should understand and someone this is a teaching moment. And so I want to teach him about due process. which is in our Constitution, the federal Constitution, and the state Constitution.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
We do police Wall Street. And all that I can say is that we've been looking at a lot of this conduct at this point in time to determine whether or not it's actionable.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Yeah, we secured a $454 million judgment against Donald Trump at all. and is based on his exaggerated, overinflated assets for the purposes of securing favorable insurance and mortgage terms. And what we are witnessing in the White House is more grift, and it's unfortunate. And right now, you know, federal agencies that once had jurisdiction to investigate these types of offenses.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Those agencies right now have been hollowed out. One of the cases that we have brought is against the federal government for terminating thousands and thousands of probationary workers. You also know that this administration has often buyouts has often offered buyouts to federal employees. So a number of these agencies are no longer following the mission of their agency.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And a number of these agencies have basically been hollowed out. And it's unfortunate that the president of the United States is using the White House to basically engage in, to basically enrich himself and others.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
So, you know, obviously, you know, the Office of the Attorney General has jurisdiction over the Martin Act and we have jurisdiction over these pump and dump schemes, which happen frequently. And we do police Wall Street. And all that I can say is that we've been looking at a lot of this conduct at this point in time to determine whether or not it's actionable.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
It's every single day. Listen, I'm on. He indicated that I was on his enemies list with others. And so all of these baseless allegations that have been refuted, it's nothing more than retribution. It's nothing more than the weaponization of the federal government. And we just continue to stay focused.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
here in the New York State Office of the Attorney General focused on our mission to enforce the law. The vast majority of my time here in this office is spent on consumer fraud, on landlord-tenant, on protecting tenants, protecting seniors, protecting children, passing legislation. protecting individuals from fraud on Wall Street, looking at monopolies and looking at scams and data breaches.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
The vast majority of my time is focused, again, on enforcing the laws in the state of New York. It's true that most recently we've had to make sure that due process is followed and the laws in our Constitution and the state constitution are enforced here as a result of all of these executive orders that have been issued by this administration, which do not have the force of law.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
executive orders which basically violate separation of power and violate Congress's power of the purse and also violate Article 10 of the United States Constitution against anti-commandeering, basically directing New York State and other states to follow suit and to be in compliance with the federal government and their wishes.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And we've been standing up saying that we are a sovereign state and we're going to enforce the law and we're going to protect marginalized and vulnerable populations and to let individuals know that his executive orders are oftentimes illegal. They're arbitrary. They're capricious. They constitute overreach.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And they're seeking basically to concentrate the power of the executive in the hands of one very, very, very dangerous man.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And it entitles individuals to hearings before, in fact, they are convicted of any crimes, including but not limited to, individuals who are about to be deported. They are entitled to a hearing before an administrative judge or a judge of due course.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
Yeah, so, you know, I can't be paralyzed by fear. I've got a job to do. I took an oath to the Constitution and to the rule of law. I made a commitment to New Yorkers that I would follow the law and I do that each and every day.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And I walk into this great office of the attorney general of the New York State Attorney General's Office, which is staffed by hundreds of attorneys who are dedicated basically to the rule of law. And all that we do is respond to executive order orders which are unlawful, unconstitutional, which do not have the force of law.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
And, you know, and we would urge the president of these United States to work with Congress to ensure. That that the laws followed. We've taken action with respect to the dismantling of the Department of Education. We've taken action with regards to tariffs. We've taken action against immigrants.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
We've taken action in regards to standing up for the LGBTQ community and individuals who require gender affirming care. We've taken action to protect your private information in the hands of Doge and Elon Musk. an unelected individual who has had access to your sensitive and private information.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump’s Disastrous Start
We've stood up and ensured that the Office of Management and Budget has not unfrozen funds, funds that focus on our health care and on child care. on essential services, protecting our veterans, protecting the 9-11 Health Fund, protecting Head Start.