After a Virginia grand jury indicted controversial New York AG Letitia James on October 9, 2025, for bank fraud and false statements, Gov. Kathy Hochul decried it as DOJ weaponization, but was shut down by an epic report from U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan echoing her own words.
For context, now facing 20 years in prison, for falsely claiming a 2020 Norfolk, Virginia, property as her secondary residence to secure better mortgage terms. Ironically, she secured a judgment against Trump for almost $500 million for a similar crime.
In any case, reacting to this situation, Gov. Kathy Hochul took to X to defend the disgraced AG. “New Yorkers know @NewYorkStateAGJames for her integrity, her independence, and her relentless fight for justice. What we’re seeing today is nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable,” she said,
Firing back with an epic retort that left him speechless, U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan quipped, “No one is above the law. The charges, as alleged in this case, represent intentional, criminal acts and significant breaches of the public’s trust. The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”
Back in 2019, Gov. Kathy Hochul took to Facebook to offer an ironic statement on Trump’s first impeachment. “It’s really quite simple — NO ONE is above the law. Not now, not ever. Speaker Pelosi & Democrats in Congress are holding the president accountable because they have a patriotic duty to uphold our Constitution, not play partisan politics,” she posted.
Speaking in November 2023 about Trump’s civil fraud trial, she again came to James’s defense. “Former President Donald Trump is testifying in an unprecedented civil trial brought by our own Attorney General, Tish James. So far from telling the truth as he’s required to do, he’s throwing temper tantrums from the witness stand and verbally attacking judges and courtroom staff. His conduct has been a disgrace, and I have full confidence that Donald Trump will be held accountable for his actions,” Hochul noted.
Speaking again on local radio about the case against Trump, she noted, “I think that this is really an extraordinary, unusual circumstance that the law-abiding and rule-following New Yorkers who are business people have nothing to worry about, because they’re very different than Donald Trump and his behavior.”
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After the absurd verdict against Trump was reached, she reacted, “Today’s verdict reaffirms that no one is above the law. In preparation for a verdict in this trial, I directed my Administration to coordinate with local and federal law enforcement closely and we continue to monitor the situation. We are committed to protecting the safety of all New Yorkers and the integrity of our judicial system.”
In a speech at the 2024 DNC, she shared more remarks, which proved her TDS. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared, “Donald Trump was born a New Yorker but ended up a fraud, a philanderer, and a felon. He wasn’t raised with the New York values that I am familiar with. Trust me, America, if you think you’re tired of Donald Trump, talk to a New Yorker. We’ve had to deal with them for 78 long years, the fraud, the tax dodging, the sham university, the shady charities.”