Trump’s Indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James Stirs Concerns for Black Women Leaders

October 28, 2025

New York Attorney General Letitia James cancelled her appearance at the state NAACP convention after being indicted by the Justice Department on mortgage fraud charges, which she denounced as baseless and unconstitutional. The indictment has ignited widespread debate about whether the Trump administration is weaponizing the justice system against political opponents, particularly Black women leaders, with critics pointing to similar actions against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Civil rights leaders argue these prosecutions represent targeted attacks on accomplished Black women and communities, especially significant given the historical importance of homeownership to Black wealth creation.

Who is affected

Letitia James, New York Attorney General
New York NAACP chapters and convention organizers
Lisa Cook, Federal Reserve Board governor
Black women leaders and Black communities broadly
James Comey, former FBI Director (also indicted)
Sen. Adam Schiff, California Democrat (under investigation)
The National Council of Negro Women members
Congressional Black Caucus members
Trump Organization (previously prosecuted by James)

What action is being taken

The Justice Department is prosecuting Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud
The Justice Department is investigating Sen. Adam Schiff for mortgage fraud
The NAACP New York State Conference is holding sessions on building political power at the state level
Civil rights organizations and allies are supporting James
The Trump administration is defending its prosecutions as justified and impartial

Why it matters

This situation matters because it raises fundamental questions about the politicization of the justice system and whether prosecutorial power is being used for political retribution against the president's critics. For Black communities specifically, the targeting of prominent Black women leaders through mortgage fraud allegations carries particular symbolic weight given the historical role of discriminatory legal systems in restricting Black property ownership and the continued importance of homeownership as a primary wealth-building avenue for Black Americans. The cases set precedents for how the justice system can be used against political opponents and threaten the independence of public officials who have previously challenged those in power.

What's next

New York NAACP organizers have said James is welcome to return to their event when ready, and allies have stated they are ready to support her in whatever manner is needed. The legal cases against James, Comey, and the investigation into Schiff will proceed through the court system. Beyond these specific developments, no explicit next steps are stated in the article.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint