Justice Department Opens Investigation Into New York AG's Office

Federal prosecutors are in the early stages of an investigation into the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a civil fraud case against President Donald Trump, according to NBC News.

The probe is focused on whether James' office used its authority to violate Trump's legal rights through its civil lawsuits against the president and his businesses, NBC reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.

The investigation is also looking at whether the National Rifle Association's rights were violated by her civil suits, they said. The investigation is being run out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, two sources told NBC. 

James successfully sued Trump and his company over what her office said were fraudulent misrepresentations of his wealth and financial statements. A judge awarded over $300 million in the case, which has since swelled to over $500 million with interest. Trump is appealing the judgment. 

It is not immediately clear how far along the DOJ investigation into James' office is and what evidence, if any, the Justice Department has gathered in the probe, NBC said.

Abbe Lowell, an attorney for James, said the probe of James' fraud case against Trump and his businesses “has to be the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign."

"Weaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected official for doing her job is an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration," he added.