New York Attorney General Letitia James says getting Kamala Harris elected president is her “singular goal,” despite having many cases on her plate.
James led the lawsuit against Donald Trump, who in February obtained a $454 million judgment against him for inflating the value of his properties.
Trump, who was also banned from doing business in New York for three years, is appealing the verdict because the fine accrues interest and James will seek to seize his assets if he fails to pay.
Vice President Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race against Trump on Sunday.
James quickly endorsed Harris and continued his support when he appeared on MSNBC on Tuesday night.
Host Joy Reid asked her if she expected Harris to nominate her as U.S. attorney general if she defeated Trump in the Nov. 5 election.
“Right now I’m focused on securing Vice President Harris’ nomination and ultimately getting her elected,” she said.
‘That is my sole focus right now and continuing to uphold the rule of law and represent the citizens of the great state of New York, as we do every day.
“As you know, we are in the middle of a lawsuit against the NRA today… We will continue to pursue that lawsuit, we will continue to reach a verdict and obtain benefits for the residents of… New York.”
James listed several points his office should focus on, notably not including prosecuting criminals.
“Stand up for the LGBTQ community, stand up for reproductive rights, stand up for our environment, stand up for seniors, stand up for marginalized and vulnerable populations, stand up for what is right,” she said.
“But that’s what I do every day and that’s what I’m focused on, along with electing Vice President Kamala Harris.”
James led the lawsuit against Donald Trump that won a $454 million judgment against him in February for inflating the value of his properties.
Trump, who was also banned from doing business in New York for three years, is appealing the verdict because the fine accrues interest and James will seek to seize his assets if he fails to pay.
James compared herself to Harris, who, like her, served as district attorney in San Francisco and then attorney general of California.
“Vice President Harris, when she was attorney general, was responsible for going after the banks that were responsible for the foreclosure crisis,” he said.
‘She championed the Affordable Care Act. She went after large corporations that engaged in deceptive business practices.
‘She pursued those individuals who abused the law both with regard to women and with regard to the sexual abuse of women.
“She again went after individuals who violated the criminal code and the civil code. She is overqualified to be president of these United States.”
James was also asked about Republicans’ racist attacks on Harris, which began almost as soon as Biden dropped out, calling her a “DEI hire.”
“She was hired by DEI, right? She’s a woman. She’s black. So she has to be good,” one man said in a video Reid played.
James said Republicans were “scared” at the prospect of facing Harris in the election and “have nothing but racism and sexism.”
“When you have nothing else, unfortunately, you only appeal to racists, to white nationalists. That’s all,” he said.
James compared herself to Harris, who, like her, served as district attorney in San Francisco and then attorney general of California.
“The reality is that Kamala Harris, Vice President Harris, is qualified. And she is often underestimated, but she is someone who stands out above all else.
“And so I’ve supported her wholeheartedly. It’s unfortunate that there are people who are just amplifying racism and sexism, and it’s totally inappropriate. And I won’t dignify that with a response.”
James also lashed out at Trump, including his family history in New York, and called on Americans to vote against him.
“I’ve talked to some people who lived in some of his buildings in Brooklyn and who he and his father discriminated against because they were African-American,” she said.
“And these people tell me the kind of tactics that they used. That’s why it’s very important for them to understand the character and the kind of individual that Donald Trump represents.
‘And the fact is that he does not respect titles and he is an individual who is willing to go to certain extremes, obviously, to achieve his goal.
“He doesn’t care about the rule of law, or the interests of the working class of this country, or bringing us together. What he cares about is how he can benefit himself and his family.”
Trump has appealed the ruling, but faces escalating interest of $1 million every nine days until he pays, and his assets could be seized if he doesn’t.
Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and his sons Eric and Donald Jr. guilty of civil fraud in the case led by James.
He alleged that they conspired to inflate the value of properties on financial statements to banks and insurance companies, and altered Trump’s net worth to obtain tax and insurance benefits.
“Between 2011 and 2021, Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization knowingly and intentionally created more than 200 false and misleading asset valuations on their annual financial statements in order to defraud financial institutions,” James’ office said in 2022.
Independent officials will oversee Trump’s New York business dealings to ensure there are no further violations of the law.
Trump has appealed the ruling, but faces escalating interest of $1 million every nine days until he pays, and his assets could be seized if he doesn’t.
James has vowed to seize Trump’s assets if he fails to pay the massive settlement, which grows by $87,502 every day until he does.