ALBANY, N.Y. – Senator Patricia Fahy (D–Albany) released the following statement today in response to news that New York State Attorney General James is facing politically-motivated charges brought forth by the Trump administration:

“It’s October, and New Yorkers know a witch hunt when they see one. The charges filed against Attorney General Letitia James represent an increasingly authoritarian Trump administration and are rooted in political retribution, rather than in any pursuit of justice. Attorney General James has spent her career pursuing accountability and taking on powerful interests, from corporate giants to President Trump. Make no mistake, these charges are part of a continuing pattern of abuse of prosecutorial and government power that should alarm every New Yorker and every American who believes in an independent judiciary and the rule of law. 

Using the justice system to punish political opponents is something we expect from tyrants in authoritarian regimes, not the United States of America. This kind of politically motivated prosecution doesn’t start and end with one person; it begins to erode the rule of law and the trust in our institutions and courts that binds our very democracy together.

I stand firmly with Attorney General James and with New Yorkers who believe that no one is above the law and in an independent, fair system of justice. New Yorkers and Americans see this for what it is and deserve better than partisan games masquerading as legitimate enforcement of our laws.”

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