On Monday, October 13, 2025, Tri-State Alert reported that Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 22 Democratic attorneys general in a joint statement condemning what they call the Trump administration’s retaliatory prosecution of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The multi-state coalition, comprised of attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, voiced strong opposition to the charges against James.

James is facing charges of Bank Fraud under 18 U.S.C. Section 1344 and False Statements to a Financial Institution under 18 U.S.C. Section 1014. U.S. Attorney Halligan stated that the charges allege intentional criminal acts and breaches of public trust, emphasizing that the pursuit of justice will continue based on the facts and the law. If convicted, James could face up to 30 years in prison per count, fines up to $1 million per count, and forfeiture.

The coalition of attorneys general argue that the indictment is a direct result of James’s successful prosecution of Donald Trump for business fraud and illegal dealings in New York. They claim Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to arrest and prosecute James and has now allegedly acted on that desire. The coalition further alleges that U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert resigned rather than seek the indictment, suggesting political interference.

The attorneys general assert that the indictment of James is part of a pattern of prosecutorial abuse under the Trump administration. They cite the arrests of a sitting member of Congress, the charges against the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the criminal investigation of a governor of the Federal Reserve as other examples of politically motivated pursuits. The coalition argues that such actions are characteristic of authoritarian regimes and not in line with American democracy.

The coalition concludes their statement by expressing solidarity with Attorney General James and others they believe have been unfairly targeted. They pledge to resist the erosion of the justice system and to ensure the rule of law prevails.

 

 

Source; Tri-State Alert