Six weeks after announcing that she would run for the Democratic primary for the government of New York, the state attorney general, Letitia James, announced on Thursday (9) the suspension of her campaign. First black woman to hold office, she would also become the first black US governor if elected.
Through spokespersons and on social media, James said he has come to the conclusion that he needs to continue the work he has been carrying out as attorney general, a position he assumed in 2018 and for which he intends to run for re-election. “There are several investigations and major cases going on, and I intend to close that work.”
The Democrat has gained space in the public debate in recent months in large part due to her role in investigations, according to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. James’ office was responsible for the report that proved that Cuomo sexually harassed co-workers, a matter that almost started an impeachment process and that led the politician to resign.
The main case in the Attorney General’s hands, however, is another: the civil investigation that she commands into the Trump Organization, linked to the family of former President Donald Trump. The company would have inflated property values ​​to get more advantageous loans and lowered property values ​​to get tax breaks.
On the same day that James announced the end of his campaign for governor, with the alleged aim of ending major investigations, the American press reported that the prosecutor’s office intends to subpoena Trump to testify on Jan. 7 about his business practices.
The possibility of the subpoena comes at a critical moment for the Republican, when another charge he is the target, this time in the criminal sphere, was accelerated by the Manhattan Public Prosecutor, Cyrus Vance. In this case, in which James’ office also participates, the Trump Organization is investigated for a pattern of fraud in submitting false property values ​​to potential creditors.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Republican’s company said it was all “another witch hunt.” “New York is being invaded by violence, children are being shot, vandals are setting fire to Christmas decorations and the homelessness is a record, but the attorney general’s only focus is on investigating Trump,” it says. “All because of her political ambitions while trying to run for governor.”
If the former president refuses to appear at the deposition, James and his office could appeal to a court and try to force him to participate, a process similar to what happened to one of Trump’s sons, Eric, last year.
He, who also works at the Trump Organization, refused to appear at a deposition called by the attorney general’s office on the grounds that he was too busy with the presidential elections in November of that year — which lifted Joe Biden, Trump’s successor, to the White House. A state judge, however, ordered Eric to attend.
At the time of the announcement of James’ candidacy for the New York government, sources in the Democratic Party, to which the attorney general belongs, told The New York Times that some members of the legend preferred that she remain as attorney general to continue the cases of interest to the party, particularly those involving Trump and his family business.
The prosecutor’s pre-campaign was even permeated by the use of investigations against Trump as a banner. In a video he posted on social media announcing his candidacy, James says, among other things, that he sued the Trump administration 76 times. “But who’s counting?” he asks.
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