Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton is condemning what he calls a “political retribution tour” by former President Donald Trump following reports that a federal grand jury has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
The indictment, filed in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, alleges that James misrepresented her intent to live in a property she later rented out, securing a more favorable mortgage rate, according to AP News. James has denied all wrongdoing, describing the charges as a politically motivated effort to punish her for her previous civil fraud case against Trump.
That case resulted in a massive financial judgment against Trump and his company, which a New York appeals court voided in August 2025 while upholding the liability finding, The Washington Post reported. James has said she intends to appeal the court’s decision to overturn the penalty.
Democratic leaders, civil rights organizations, and legal observers across the nation have sharply criticized the new indictment. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of turning the Justice Department into his “personal attack dog,” while New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the prosecution a blatant misuse of federal power, Politico reported.
Sharpton, the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), released a statement Thursday defending James and decrying the indictment as a politically charged attack aimed at silencing a prominent Black woman in power.
“Donald Trump just used his new favorite weapon in the Justice Department to attack the right-wing’s favorite target, using their favorite allegation. Let’s not forget that this was the same prosecutor who just indicted James Comey after their predecessor refused to because the charges were cooked up. Nor can we lose sight of the fact that the right wing has constantly sought to use mortgage fraud against Black women in power — because in their mind these women have no right to own property. Nor can we have amnesia around the fact that Tish James has been brave enough to litigate the shady actions the Trump Organizations took for decades. This isn’t the delivery of justice. It is the latest stop on Donald Trump’s political retribution tour. If he can indict the former FBI Director or the Attorney General of New York, what stops him from going further? I stand with Attorney General James by calling out this attack for what it is, and I know she has the leadership, the strength, and the courage to fight.”
James is scheduled to appear in court on October 24 to respond to the charges.
About National Action Network (NAN):
Founded in 1991 by Rev. Al Sharpton, NAN is one of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations, advocating for justice, equality, and economic empowerment in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For more information, visit www.nationalactionnetwork.net.