New York Attorney General Letitia James seeks to block Trump
administration's subpoenas
[November 01, 2025]
By CAROLYN THOMPSON
New York Attorney General Letitia James is challenging the legitimacy of
the acting U.S. attorney in Albany as she pushes back against the Trump
administration's investigation of cases she brought against the
president and the National Rifle Association, according to court
documents unsealed Friday.
James in August filed a motion to block subpoenas issued by acting U.S.
Attorney John Sarcone for records related to the legal actions, claiming
the Justice Department's probe of the cases was retaliatory.
She also argued that Sarcone had been improperly appointed to his
position and, as a result, lacked legitimate authority to authorize the
subpoenas.
The subpoenas seek records related to a major civil case the Democrat
James filed against President Donald Trump over alleged fraud in his
personal business dealings. Another subpoena seeks records from a
lawsuit involving the National Rifle Association and two senior
executives.
Dozens of court documents in the case have been filed under seal in U.S.
District Court since August. A federal judge in Manhattan late Friday
granted James' motion to unseal most of the entries, making them public
over the objection of the Justice Department.
Judge Lorna Schofield, however, has not yet ruled on the motion to quash
the subpoenas.
“Unsealing this action is not only permissible but compelled," she
wrote. "One simple fact drives this conclusion: the information at issue
is not secret.”
An email seeking comment was sent to Sarcone's office. A phone message
was not immediately returned late Friday.
James has accused the Trump administration of using the justice system
as a “tool of revenge” against adversaries. The attorney general has
sued Trump and his Republican administration dozens of times over his
policies as president and over how he conducted his private business
empire.
[to top of second column]
|
New York Attorney General, Letitia James, speaks after pleading not
guilty outside the United States District Court on Friday, Oct. 24,
2025, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/John Clark,File)
In October, James was indicted in a federal mortgage fraud case the
president pressed the Justice Department to bring. She pleaded not
guilty Monday allegations she lied on mortgage papers to get
favorable loan terms when purchasing a house in Norfolk, Virginia,
where she has family.
In her motion to quash Sarcone's subpoenas, James cited anonymous
media reports that they were part of a grand jury investigation into
allegations that James violated Trump's civil rights in 2022 when
her office sued Trump, then a private businessman.
She argued Sarcone lacked authority to issue the subpoenas because
he was improperly appointed by the Trump administration.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Sarcone to serve as the
interim U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York in
March. With the expiration of the 120-day interim term, Bondi
designated him as first assistant U.S. attorney for the district,
essentially improperly extending his role as acting U.S. attorney,
according to James.
James' lawyers in the mortgage fraud case have said they intend to
challenge the appointment of the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, on
similar grounds.
The indictment in that case followed the resignation of Erik Siebert
as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Siebert was
replaced with Halligan, a White House aide and former Trump lawyer
who had never previously served as a federal prosecutor, and
presented James’ case to the grand jury herself.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
