Last week, she won a historic verdict against the NRA and two executives. “A New York jury found that Wayne LaPierre, who led the NRA for 30 years, squandered millions of dollars on vacations, private jets and expensive clothing,” the Post reported. “The jury also determined that the NRA violated New York state law by failing to include information or falsely reporting information on its tax returns and by failing to adopt a whistleblower policy.”
Pierre was liable for $5.4 million in damages (and provided cause for expulsion from the NRA based on the violation). Former chief financial officer Wilson “Woody” Phillips was found liable for $2 million in damages. A separate proceeding before a judge will then determine non-monetary penalties, including the appointment of a monitor for the NRA’s charitable foundation. James also plans to ask a judge to bar these individuals from holding positions at other New York charities.
James has never been accused of cowardice. As detailed by the Associated Press, “she has filed several lawsuits against her.” [Trump’s] When he was in the White House, it was an administration focused on Republican immigration and environmental policy. She also “took over an ongoing state lawsuit against the Trump Charitable Foundation that was filed before she took office, leading to a settlement that included a $2 million fine.”
She’s not just targeting Republicans. “In 2021, James oversaw an investigation into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women,” the Associated Press reported. “The investigation marked a significant downfall for the once rising star of the Democratic Party. Lawyers hired by Mr. We concluded that the 11 women who claimed to have made suggestive comments were telling the truth.”
Her most surprising victory was certainly against Trump. Despite derision, death threats, and accusations of racism and a “witch hunt” from legal commentators who decried her massive lawsuit as overreach, she persevered with her claims from President Trump and We won a judgment of more than $454 million (including interest) against Trump for exaggerating the value of his holdings. She has vowed to seize Trump’s assets if he is unable to post the legally required bond or place the full amount in escrow as he pursues his appeal.
After the verdict, she declared, “Donald Trump has committed years of massive fraud to unfairly inflate his net worth and unjustly enrich himself, his family, and his organization.” did. He may have written “The Art of the Deal,” but our case reveals that his business was based on the art of stealing. She continued, “Now, Donald Trump is finally being held accountable for his lies, his cheating, and his amazing deceit. Because no matter how great, how rich, how powerful he is, No one is above the law, even if they think they are.”
Mr. James has a very different view from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who delayed pursuing criminal charges against Mr. Trump (after Mr. Trump announced his candidacy, Mr. Garland appointed special counsel Jack Smith). ), a misguided attempt to avoid appearing overtly political. (Lawsuits involving voting rights and abortion rights, on the other hand, are supported these days by private litigants rather than the Justice Department.) James argues that avoiding litigation for fear of angering the right is itself political. He seems to understand something. Frankly, valuing outward neutrality over doggedly pursuing wrongdoers undermines the rule of law.
Regarding the death threats, she told a podcast interviewer in June: I don’t think about it. The reality is that I have a job to do every day. ” she repeated. “I will not be paralyzed by fear. I have to wake up every day with this fire in my belly to represent the interests of New York State residents and serve this state.”
There’s a fire in my belly. That’s what prosecutors need. James embodies all the qualities one should expect in a national lawyer: fearlessness, tenacity, a keen understanding of the law, and the ability to recruit a skilled team.She understands that her job entails her aggression tracking of Justice. She is not one to passively wait for her case to come to her, and she is not one to avoid controversy for fear of politicizing her position or to pursue litigation unless her success is guaranteed. I’m not someone who refuses to proceed. She unashamedly defends her mission to her public, her team, and herself.
Come to think of it, she would make a great US attorney general in Biden’s second term.