By Andrew Goudsward and Jack Queen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office on Friday accused President Donald Trump’s administration of politicizing the legal system following reports that the Justice Department has opened an investigation into a fraud lawsuit she led against Trump.
Prosecutors have convened a grand jury investigation and subpoenaed James’ office for documents about the lawsuit against Trump and a separate case she brought against the National Rifle Association, a gun rights group, Fox News and The New York Times reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the reports. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
Abbe Lowell, a lawyer representing James, called the reported probe “the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign.”
“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’ office said in a statement.
The reported investigations would mark an escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to use government power to pursue retribution against those who have investigated or publicly resisted Trump and his political agenda.
The civil fraud case, brought forward in 2022, resulted in a $355 million judgment against Trump last year after a judge found he fraudulently overstated his net worth to dupe lenders as he built his real estate empire. Trump is appealing.
Trump has repeatedly claimed the case against him was brought for political reasons. The Justice Department has been scrutinizing the lawsuit as part of review of so-called weaponization of the government against Trump and his supporters.
(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Aurora Ellis)
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