On Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James entered a not guilty plea in a federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, where she was arraigned on two felony charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The charges stem from her 2020 purchase of a home in the city and allege that she misrepresented the nature of her residence to secure more favorable loan conditions. Prosecutors claim that by falsely stating the property would be her secondary residence—when in fact it was rented out to a family—James would have saved nearly $19,000 in interest over a 30-year loan term. This case has drawn significant attention due to its political implications, as James has long been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, whom she targeted in her earlier legal actions against his businesses. The case is seen by many as part of a broader pattern of political retribution, with James accusing the Justice Department of using the legal system as a tool for political vendetta.