WASHINGTON (AP) – The New York State NAACP Chapter Association had just begun its annual state convention when longtime party member and state Attorney General Letitia James canceled her attendance.
James was just there. Justice Department indicts on suspicion of mortgage fraudshe called the accusations “baseless” and “a gross violation of the constitutional order.”
For New York convention organizers, the moment was alarming and underscored the importance of the rally, which featured multiple sessions on building political power at the state level in response to what NAACP leaders called federal attacks on social services, civil rights, and the rule of law.
“Democracy was built through our collective action,” said L. Joy Williams, president of the NAACP New York State Convention. “What we have to do is not just protect against what’s happening now, we have to build systems to build on what we had before and build a better American democracy that we all deserve.”
Previously Indicted James The Trump Organization was indicted for business fraud.which quickly sparked debate about whether the justice system had been politicized due to President Donald Trump’s personal grievances. It also drew many similarities to President Trump’s recent effort to fire Federal Reserve President Lisa Cook over similar allegations.
The allegations against Mr. James and Mr. Cook have symbolic weight.
Supporters see some of President Trump’s recent moves as exceptionally targeting Black women leaders.
“This is something we’ve been working on since the beginning of this administration,” said Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Black Women, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization for black women.
Arline-Bradley said the argument also carries symbolic weight for black families, whose property ownership has historically been limited by the legal system through overt and implicit discrimination.
Since then, homeownership has been a disproportionate, and sometimes only, means of wealth creation for black Americans. According to a recent national survey, The widening racial wealth gap between whites and blacksEven if black workers’ incomes increase.
“When you attack someone’s home, you attack their ability to own property, you attack their ability to make choices, you attack their ability to have a say in their economic future,” Arline Bradley said. “This is a consistent pattern and highlights what they think is the Achilles heel of the black community.”
Arlynne Bradley added that black women “feel very targeted” because of the president’s words and actions, which she attributed to “misconceptions about women’s accomplishments and leadership.”
“A step of justice for all Americans”
The Trump administration maintains that the prosecution of James on charges of mortgage fraud was legitimate and fair.
“No one is above the law,” Lindsay Harrigan, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement. “The charges alleged in this case represent intentional criminal conduct and a serious violation of the public trust. The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue to follow them to ensure justice is served.”
And Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in a post to X shortly after James’ indictment: “A step of justice for all Americans.”
Critics of the regime argue that the regime’s actions amount to political retribution and an illegal attempt to consolidate its power. Black leaders further argued that the administration’s actions were at the expense of pioneering Black leaders and the Black community.
“Through his public comments against Attorney General James, President Trump has made clear that the purpose of this indictment is simply to retaliate against his political opponents,” Yvette Clark, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in a statement.
“The American people see this corrupt prosecution for what it is: President Trump’s desperate attempt to weaponize the justice system. This will not stand up to public or legal scrutiny,” she added.
Legal expert says case against James is ‘very unusual’
In addition to James, the Trump Justice Department also indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstruction of justice in connection with his 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony.
The Justice Department is also investigating California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff for possible mortgage fraud. President Trump called for Schiff, who led Trump’s first impeachment, to be jailed.
Experts are questioning the significance and motive of the mortgage fraud investigation.
“It’s very unusual for prosecutors to bring these kinds of charges without a pattern of malicious conduct or evidence that the individual actually harmed the bank by not paying the mortgage or that it was part of a larger fraud scheme,” said Paul Schiff Berman, a professor at George Washington University School of Law.
“The allegation is that she intended to use the house as a second home, but also occasionally used it as a rental property,” Berman said of James, adding that this could be argued as a reasonable use for a second home and likely would not violate a typical mortgage agreement.
Regardless of the legal arguments that follow, allies of Ms. James say they stand ready to support her in any way necessary. Organizers of the New York conference said they would welcome her back to the event when she is ready.
“While we are responding at this time, we want to give her space because the same thing is happening to her,” said Williams, leader of the New York State NAACP. “And home means you can always go there. So we know she’ll always come back.”
