The Justice Department expanded its investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, subpoenaing James for her office’s handling of the civil fraud investigation into President Trump, according to a Trump administration source familiar with the investigation.
Another subpoena was sent to James’ office regarding her office’s investigation into the National Rifle Association. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York is leading the investigations, the source said.
The subpoenas are an indication that the Trump administration is continuing to investigate the president’s political adversaries. James investigated Mr. Trump before his 2024 election victory. The New York Times first reported the subpoenas.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Northern District of New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
CBS News has reached out to James’ office for comment.
Her attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement, “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.”
Lowell accused the Trump administration of “[w]eaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected official for doing her job” and said it was “an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration.”
“If prosecutors carry out this improper tactic and are genuinely interested in the truth, we are ready and waiting with the facts and the law,” Lowell said.
In May, CBS News reported that a criminal fraud probe led by the FBI had been launched into James for alleged mortgage fraud.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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