New York Attorney General Letitia James has been criminally indicted on federal charges by a grand jury.

James, who led a civil fraud investigation against Trump in 2023, was indicted on charges of bank fraud in the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, according to court documents.

Prosecutors accuse James of alleged bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution regarding a mortgage loan for a house in Norfolk, Virginia, the documents state.

In a statement, James accused the president - who recently publicly pressured prosecutors to file criminal charges against her - of a 'desperate weaponization of our justice system'.

'He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State attorney general,' she asserted.

'These charges are baseless, and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost.'

The US prosecutor assigned to the case, Lindsey Halligan, emphasized that '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,' Halligan stated.

James' first court appearance is scheduled for 24 October in Norfolk.

The federal government alleges James bought a three-bedroom home in Norfolk using a mortgage loan that required her to use the property as her secondary residence and did not allow for shared ownership or 'timesharing' of the home.

The indictment claims the property 'was not occupied or used' by James as a secondary residence, but was instead 'used as a rental investment property', which was being rented to a family of three.

James could face up to 30 years in prison per count and up to a $1 million fine if convicted.

James's attorney, Abbe Lowell, expressed concern that the case is driven by Trump's desire for revenge and accountability. Meanwhile, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union condemned the indictment as a misuse of power.

This situation signals how legal actions can become intertwined with political maneuvering, raising concerns about the integrity of the justice system in the face of political pressures.