Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Trump-backed investigations into NY AG Letitia James cost taxpayers $1.4M and counting
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Published May 10, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Published May 10, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Lobbyists, major labor unions, a co-owner of the Flatiron Building and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark all contributed to Attorney General Letitia James’ legal defense as she fended off an investigation from President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice.
Documents filed by the Democratic Attorneys General Association show that the national advocacy group spent around $625,000 to defend James from allegations by federal prosecutors in Virginia that she committed mortgage fraud in that state. A federal judge subsequently dismissed the case. Federal prosecutors are reportedly still investigating James in connection with her properties.
Taxpayers, meanwhile, have spent $1.4 million and counting to beat back another investigation by federal prosecutors in Albany, state records show. That tab is expected to rise as the case is appealed. That investigation, according to court filings, is examining James’ handling of a case centering on the Trump Organization’s valuation of properties, as well as another into the National Rifle Association.
On Monday, a former U.S. solicitor general argued that John Sarcone, Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. attorney’s office covering much of upstate New York, should remain barred from continuing the parallel investigation of James.
James and her allies say the charges and investigations are political. Her office prevailed in the Trump Organization case, prompting the Republican president to publicly pressure DOJ leaders to go after James.
That sense of unfairness motivated donors to her legal defense, they said.
“It was a national outrage that the Trump administration would just be so hell-bent on going after our attorney general,” said state Sen. John Liu, a Queens Democrat who donated $200. “We didn't want Attorney General James to feel like … she didn't have everyone in backing her.”
Emily Trifone, a spokesperson for the Democratic Attorneys General Association, said the organization raised more than $1 million for the legal defense fund. Trifone said it’s difficult to determine exactly who donated to James’ legal defense because all contributions go into the organization’s general fund.
Liu said he contributed after a Zoom call organized by the advocacy group 100 Black Men.
Jeff Gural, a real estate developer and co-owner of Manhattan’s historic Flatiron Building, contributed $5,000 to the Democratic Attorneys General Association. He confirmed his donation was aimed at James’ defense.
U.S. Attorney John Sarcone launched an investigation into James' investigations of the NRA and Trump Organization.
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images
Other prominent figures donated to the association in the days after James’ indictment. Clark, the top prosecutor in the Bronx, gave $500. Valerie Berlin, a cofounder of the lobbying and public relations firm BerlinRosen, contributed $1,000. Lobbyist Emily Giske donated $3,000.
A political action committee associated with SEIU 1199, a union representing healthcare workers, contributed $50,000 on October 9 — the same day James was charged with mortgage fraud. A union spokesperson said the donation was made to “protect our democratic institutions.”
Local 1180 of the Communication Workers of America, which represents New York City employees, contributed $3,000. A spokesperson didn’t return requests for comment.
Fearing that Trump would seek retribution against his perceived enemies, New York lawmakers created a special $10 million fund for James and others to use for legal defense. James’ office opted not to tap it, saying it wanted to save taxpayer funds, and instead turned to the Democratic Attorneys General Association.
The organization said it set up the legal defense fund to help any state prosecutors who ended up in Trump’s crosshairs. It’s still seeking contributions.
"As Democratic AGs continue to be on the front lines fighting to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans, President Trump continues to ignore the law and target anyone who disagrees with him,” Trifone said. “DAGA will always defend all Democratic AGs and their staff who are targeted for political retribution by the Trump administration."
The federal investigation of James’ office stalled after Sarcone issued subpoenas for records from her cases against the Trump Organization and the NRA.
James’ office hired an outside law firm, Munger Tolles & Olson LLP, to challenge the subpoenas. Taxpayers are footing the bill because the subpoenas targeted the Office of Attorney General. A federal judge quashed them, finding that Sarcone was not properly appointed to his position and couldn’t lawfully sign off on the subpoenas.
A panel of appellate judges heard arguments over the matter on Monday. James’ office was represented by Donald Verrilli, a former U.S. solicitor general. Under the retainer agreement, partners like Verrilli bill for $1,650 per hour.
The state has paid the firm $1.4 million as of late March, spending records show. James’ office increased its overall contract with the firm to $2.5 million in February, according to the state comptroller’s office.
“Our office continues to defend its work in the Trump Organization and NRA cases against the federal government’s attack on the rule of law,” said Alexis Richards, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office.
Tagged
Politics
new york
Jimmy Vielkind
Jimmy Vielkind covers how state government and politics affect people throughout New York. He has covered Albany since 2008, most recently as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Jimmy led a team of reporters that won a New York Press Club award for coverage of Andrew Cuomo’s downfall and was on a team that won a Gerald Loeb Award for coverage of Amazon’s HQ2 process. A native of the Capitol Region, Jimmy has two degrees in urban planning. His position is funded by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Reach Jimmy at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Judge temporarily halts overnight construction at NYC’s Chinatown jail
The order comes after Chinatown residents sued the city over noise, health concerns and years of planned after-hours construction.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 7:08 p.m. ET
Pressure grows on Mamdani to reform admissions to NYC specialized high schools
A former top-school official will join councilmembers and other prominent educators at an event focused on specialized high schools.
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
Pressure grows on Mamdani to reform admissions to NYC specialized high schools
A former top-school official will join councilmembers and other prominent educators at an event focused on specialized high schools.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Police search for man in Central Park sexual assault
By
Charles Lane
Rockefeller Center's 2026 Christmas tree is a 76-foot spruce from Upstate New York
By
Giulia Heyward
‘A killer cop lives here’: Brooklyn arrests raise questions about limits of free speech
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .