Federal prosecutors in Virginia had uncovered no clear evidence to prove that James had knowingly committed mortgage fraud when she purchased a home in the state in 2023, ABC News first reported earlier this week, but Trump officials pushed U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert to nevertheless bring criminal charges against her, according to sources.
Update: Trump says prosecutor fired after gaining “UNUSUALLY STRONG” Democratic support
President Trump claimed the U.S. attorney in Virginia who didn’t pursue a case against New York’s attorney general Letitia James was fired following earlier reports he resigned.
Why it matters: Trump has a history of demanding Justice Department officials target his personal political enemies, but the president provided a different, unrelated rationale for Erik Siebert’s ouster.