Constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley sharply criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s Hannity, calling her “lawfare’s happiest warrior” as she now faces legal trouble of her own.
James is reportedly under investigation for mortgage fraud. Turley pointed to the irony of her situation, given her aggressive prosecution of President Donald Trump using civil fraud statutes despite no actual financial losses to any parties involved. “She relished the limelight,” Turley noted, highlighting how the court agreed that “not a single dime was lost” in the Trump case, yet James moved forward anyway based on allegedly inaccurate financial statements.
Host Sean Hannity brought up the wildly disputed $18 million valuation of Mar-a-Lago used by the court in James’ case against President Trump. Hannity emphasized that James and the judge refused to allow expert testimony from Palm Beach realtors who could have established a value exceeding $1 billion. “Sounds like she’s in trouble to me,” Hannity said, noting that Trump’s personal documents supported a much higher valuation of the property.
Turley acknowledged that while James may be facing serious allegations, any resulting trial will not be simple or quick. He explained that challenges are already being prepared regarding Lindsey Halligan’s authority as acting U.S. attorney, citing prior legal limits on Trump’s appointment powers for that post. This procedural hurdle could delay a trial significantly.
Still, Turley pointed out the district selected for any prosecution is “very blue” and favorable to James politically, even if it’s not New York. This suggests she may still have a sympathetic jury pool despite growing concerns about politicized prosecutions.
Letitia James built her reputation by aggressively targeting President Trump and conservative political figures, often seen celebrating her legal battles on camera. Now, she may be on the other side of the courtroom as questions rise about her own financial dealings.
