New York, NY – October 14, 2025 – In a bold display of resilience, New York Attorney General Letitia James made her first public appearance since being indicted on federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements. Speaking at a rally for Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in Manhattan’s Washington Heights on Monday, James raised her fist to the crowd and vowed to fight back against what she and her supporters describe as politically motivated attacks.
The indictment, unsealed last week, accuses James of underreporting approximately $18,933 in income on a mortgage application—a figure her office has dismissed as insignificant compared to the multimillion-dollar civil fraud case she successfully pursued against former President Donald Trump.
“This is nothing but retribution,” James declared to the cheering audience, echoing statements from her team and allies, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who called the charges a “witch hunt” orchestrated by the Trump administration.
The rally, which drew more than 3,000 enthusiastic supporters, served as both a show of defiance by James and a campaign boost for Mamdani’s progressive platform. With the November 4 mayoral election approaching, Mamdani—a state assemblyman known for his advocacy on affordable housing and police reform—used the event to rally voters around policies aimed at tackling New York City’s deepening affordability crisis and promoting greater accountability in law enforcement.
“New Yorkers deserve leaders who stand up for justice, not those who buckle under pressure,” Mamdani said, praising James as a “fighter for the people.”
Attendees waving signs and chanting slogans included local activists, union members, and community leaders—underscoring the rally’s role in energizing the progressive base amid a contentious election cycle.
James’s appearance comes at a pivotal point in her career. Elected in 2018 as the first Black woman to serve as New York Attorney General, she has built a reputation for leading high-profile investigations into corporate misconduct, including her landmark case against the Trump Organization, which resulted in a $454 million judgment. Critics of the indictment have called it a case of selective prosecution, pointing to the timing—just weeks before the election—and the relatively minor sum involved.
Supporters at the rally expressed unwavering solidarity. “Letitia James has been holding the powerful accountable, and now they’re trying to silence her,” said one attendee, a housing advocate from Brooklyn. Governor Hochul reiterated her support in a statement earlier in the day: “These charges are baseless and designed to intimidate. New York stands with AG James.”
As the legal battle unfolds, James has vowed to continue performing her duties without interruption. Her office confirmed she plans to challenge the indictment vigorously in court, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for next month. Meanwhile, Mamdani’s campaign appears to be gaining momentum from James’s high-profile endorsement, positioning him as a frontrunner among candidates vying to succeed Mayor Eric Adams.
The rally in Washington Heights—a vibrant, diverse neighborhood—symbolized a broader pushback against what progressives see as federal overreach under President Trump. With the election just three weeks away, the event highlighted the intertwining of local and national politics, where personal legal battles can transform into rallying cries for broader movements.
