Fri Oct 24 18:40:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewritten news article based on that summary:

Summary:

New York Attorney General Letitia James has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements. The charges stem from a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia, where she allegedly misrepresented the property’s use as a secondary residence to obtain a lower interest rate on a loan. James claims the charges are politically motivated retribution from President Trump, citing her history of investigating him and his businesses. The case is being prosecuted by Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide recently appointed as acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Trump. James’s legal team intends to file motions to dismiss the case, citing selective prosecution and the allegedly unlawful appointment of Halligan. A trial date has been set for January 2026.

Rewritten News Article:

NY Attorney General Letitia James Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges, Claims Political Retribution

Norfolk, VA – New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution at a federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday. The indictment alleges that James misrepresented the intended use of a Norfolk home she purchased in 2020 to secure a lower interest rate on a mortgage.

Prosecutors claim James falsely stated the property would be her secondary residence when, in fact, she rented it out. According to the indictment, this misrepresentation allowed her to save nearly $19,000 over the life of the 30-year loan.

James, a Democrat who has long been a target of President Donald Trump’s ire, vehemently denies the charges. “This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” she stated following her arraignment. “These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost.”

The case is being prosecuted by Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide whom President Trump recently installed as acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. The appointment of Halligan has raised questions about the impartiality of the investigation.

Halligan defended the charges, stating, “No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust.”

James’s legal team, led by Abbe Lowell and Andrew Bosse, a former assistant U.S. attorney, intends to file motions to dismiss the case, arguing that it constitutes selective and vindictive prosecution. They will also challenge the legality of Halligan’s appointment.

The case mirrors the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, which was also presented to a grand jury by Halligan.

“The Justice Department is being used as a tool of revenge, and a vehicle of retribution,” James told reporters outside the courthouse. “But my faith is strong. I have a belief in the justice system. Never cow down or break or bend. So there is no fear today. I will not be deterred.”

Judge Jamar K. Walker set a trial date for January 26, 2026, and ordered parties to appear back in court for motions hearings in early December.

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