Letitia A. James
Letitia A. James is running for New York State attorney general
LETITIA JAMES
DEMOCRAT
BACKGROUND:
- James, 64, of Brooklyn, was first elected attorney general in 2018, becoming the first African American and first woman elected to the job.
- She led two investigations highly critical of ex-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. One of them, regarding sexual harassment allegations, was a leading factor in Cuomo’s decision to resign in 2021.
- She announced a run for governor but switched to running again for attorney general after most Democratic leaders lined up for Gov. Kathy Hochul.
- She has a bachelor’s degree from Lehman College and a law degree from Howard University.
ISSUES:
- She has led several probes of Donald Trump’s business dealings. One resulted in Trump being ordered to pay $2 million for misusing his charity to help his political campaign. An ongoing lawsuit against Trump, his children and his organization alleges broad financial fraud.
- She touts a probe that led accused the Cuomo administration of undercounting deaths in nursing homes due to COVID-19.
- She cites these high-profile cases in saying she will “never be bullied” by those in power.