NY Attorney General Speaks Out After Virginia Arraignment: 'I Will Not Be Deterred'

NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement Friday after being arraigned in Norfolk, Virginia.

James pleaded not guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution, according to CNN.

"I want to thank all of you. I want to thank each and every one of you. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want to thank you for your emails. I want to thank you for your support," James said. "It has strengthened my spirit. And it has anchored my soul. And so, I want to thank you."

New York State Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on October 9.

ABC News reported at the time that James had been indicted on at least one count of reported mortgage fraud.

"But this is not about me. This is about all of us, and about a justice system which has been weaponized," James said. "A justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge. This justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge — and a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and stood up for the rule of law. And a justice system which unfortunately is being used as a vehicle of retribution."

She added: "But my faith is strong. I have this belief in the justice system and the rule of law. And I have a belief in America and all of its individuals who have stood with me — not only in New York but all across this nation. I have heard from just about every jurisdiction in this nation who have said, ‘Stand up and be tall. Never ever bow down or back down or break or bend.’ So, there’s no fear today. No fear. No fear. No fear. No fear. Because I believe that justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. And I am here to say that my work and my job and all that I do — all throughout my public career — I have stood up for the rights of New Yorkers and Americans."

James continued: "I will not be deterred. I will not be distracted. I will do my job each and every day. And that is why I am headed back to New York, because there is work to be done standing up for the rule of law. God bless you and thank you all. I appreciate you."

James also issued a statement after she was indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s office of the Eastern District of Virginia.

"These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost. The president’s actions are a grave violation of our Constitutional order and have drawn sharp criticism from members of both parties.

"His decision to fire a United States Attorney who refused to bring charges against me — and replace them with someone who is blindly loyal not to the law, but to the president — is antithetical to the bedrock principles of our country. This is the time for leaders on both sides of the aisle to speak out against this blatant perversion of our system of justice.

"I stand strongly behind my office’s litigation against the Trump Organization. We conducted a two-year investigation based on the facts and evidence — not politics. Judges have upheld the trial court’s finding that Donald Trump, his company, and his two sons are liable for fraud," James said.

A spokesperson for the Eastern District of Virginia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The indictment came just weeks after a case charging former FBI Director James Comey of lying to Congress, the AP said..

The indictment came after President Donald Trump's recent demand that the Department of Justice move to charge his "political enemies," ABC quoted sources as saying.

According to the AP at the time of James' indictment, "the James case remained under seal Thursday, making it impossible to assess what evidence prosecutors have. But as was the case with the Comey charges, the prosecution followed a strikingly unconventional case."

James, a second-term Democrat, has denied wrongdoing, the AP said. She has said that she made an error while filling out a form related to the home purchase but rectified it quickly.

"Her lawyer has accused the Justice Department of concocting a bogus criminal case to settle Trump’s personal vendetta against James, who last year won a staggering judgment against Trump and his companies in a lawsuit alleging he lied to banks and others about the value of his assets," the AP report said.