Trump Administration Sends New Criminal Referrals to DOJ Targeting NY AG Letitia James

Introduction

In a striking escalation of an already intense political and legal conflict, the Trump administration has once again referred New York Attorney General Letitia James to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for potential criminal prosecution. The new referrals, sent in March 2026, center on allegations of insurance fraud tied to property ownership and filings.

The move is the latest chapter in a prolonged and deeply contentious battle between former President Donald Trump and one of his most prominent political adversaries. James, a Democrat and long-serving attorney general of New York, has been at the forefront of legal efforts targeting Trump’s business empire—most notably securing a major civil fraud ruling against him in 2024.