New York Attorney General Letitia James is challenging the legitimacy of the acting U.S. attorney in Albany as she opposes the Trump administration’s investigation into cases she brought against the president and the National Rifle Association, according to court documents unsealed Friday.
In August, James introduced a ban proposal Subpoenas were issued by Acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone for records related to the legal proceedings, alleging that the Justice Department’s investigation into these cases was retaliatory.
It also said Sarcone was improperly appointed to his position and, as a result, lacked the legitimate authority to authorize the subpoenas.
The subpoenas seek records related to a major civil case filed by Democrat James against President Donald Trump for alleged fraud in his presidency. Personal business dealings. Another subpoena requests records from a lawsuit related to National Rifle Association and two senior executives.
Dozens of court documents in this case have been submitted under seal to the US District Court since August. A federal judge in Manhattan late Friday approved James’ proposal to unseal most of the entries, making them public over the Justice Department’s objection.
But Judge Lorna Schofield has not yet ruled on the request to quash the subpoenas.
“Disclosing this act is not only permissible, it is mandatory,” she wrote. “There is a simple fact that leads to this conclusion: the information in question is not classified.”
An email seeking comment was sent to Sarcone’s office. A phone message was not immediately returned late Friday.
James accused the Trump administration of using the judicial system “as a tool for revenge” against opponents. The Attorney General has He filed a lawsuit against Trump and his Republican administration Dozens of times over his policies as president and the way he ran his private business empire.
In October, James was indicted in a federal mortgage fraud case, and the president pressured the Justice Department to bring her up. she He pleaded not guilty She alleged on Monday that she lied on mortgage paperwork to obtain favorable loan terms when purchasing a home in Norfolk, Virginia, where she has family.
In her motion to quash Sarcone’s subpoenas, James cited anonymous media reports that she was part of a grand jury investigation into allegations that James violated Trump’s civil rights in 2022 when her office filed a lawsuit against Trump, who was then a private businessman.
She said Sarcone lacked the authority to issue the subpoenas because he was improperly appointed by the Trump administration.
U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi appointed Sarcone to serve as interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York in March. As the 120-day interim period expired, Bondi appointed him as first assistant U.S. attorney for the district, improperly expanding his role as acting U.S. attorney, according to James.
James’ lawyers in the mortgage fraud case said they plan to challenge the appointment of the prosecutor, Lindsay Halligan, on similar grounds.
The indictment came in this case Eric Seibert resigns As US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Seibert was replaced by Halligana White House aide and former Trump lawyer who had never previously worked as a federal prosecutor, presented James’ case to the grand jury herself.