New York Attorney General Letitia James made her first public appearance since being indicted on federal charges, speaking at a campaign rally for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. During her address, she criticized those who "weaponize justice for political gain," stating, "We see powerful voices trying to silence truth and punish dissent."

James, who was indicted last week on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, emphasized the threats to democracy and the erosion of government systems. Her indictment follows a pattern of political prosecutions, with President Donald Trump recently urging the Justice Department to charge his political opponents.

At the rally held at the United Palace in Washington Heights, James received a standing ovation. She raised her fist and declared, "I will not bow. I will not break. I will not bend. You come for me, you've got to come through all of us. Every single one of us. We're all in this together."

Reflecting on her family's history of overcoming adversity, James assured the audience that she would continue to fight for justice. She also expressed solidarity with Mamdani, stating that he understands the challenges of being attacked and harassed for political beliefs. James praised Mamdani's affordability agenda, calling him "one of the boldest voices in the history of New York politics" before introducing him.

The charges against James were announced by Lindsey Halligan, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Halligan stated, "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." James is scheduled to appear in court on October 24 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Prosecutors allege that James misled a bank to secure better loan terms by claiming a property would be a secondary residence, while they assert it was intended for rental income. However, sources indicated that a five-month investigation yielded no clear evidence against her.

In a statement following her indictment, James described the charges as a continuation of Trump's efforts to manipulate the justice system. She stated, "This is nothing more than a continuation of the president's 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." James further asserted that the charges are baseless and motivated by political retribution.