James blasts Trump for promoting 'violence' and 'terror' in election office raid
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York Attorney General Letitia James sharply criticized the Trump administration this week, accusing it of using fear and intimidation as part of a broader political strategy ahead of the midterm elections. Speaking in an interview with MS NOW’s Eugene Daniels that aired Saturday on The Weekend, James argued that recent federal actions reflect a deliberate effort to undermine democratic norms and erode public trust in elections.
James, who previously led a civil fraud case against President Donald Trump, pointed to recent federal activity as evidence of what she described as a coordinated pressure campaign. She cited the raid on a Fulton County, Georgia, elections facility and the Justice Department’s push for access to voter rolls as examples of actions she says are fueling mistrust rather than resolving legitimate legal disputes.
Trump using terror to hold power
Asked whether the administration’s moves were driven by lingering disputes over the 2020 election or future political calculations, James framed them as part of a forward-looking strategy. “It’s about violence, it’s about terror, it’s about fear,” she said, arguing that the focus has shifted from past litigation to shaping the political landscape ahead of upcoming elections.
James said the approach is centered on the midterms, asserting that repeated challenges to voting systems and election administration are intended to weaken confidence in democratic institutions. She warned that such actions risk normalizing distrust in the electoral process itself.
Attorneys general reject voter roll demands
James also addressed the growing dispute between state officials and the Justice Department over access to voter information. She said she joined 23 other state attorneys general in sending a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi objecting to federal requests for voter data, which they argue exceed legal authority.
According to James, the DOJ sought personal voter information from Minnesota on the same day federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. She characterized the request as an attempt to obtain data outside the bounds of normal judicial processes, rather than a legitimate enforcement action.
States deny access to personal data
James confirmed that New York also received a request for voter rolls and personal data, which her office denied. “We say no,” she stated, adding that New York and other states will not comply with what they view as improper federal demands.
She described the requests as transactional in nature and said states are united in refusing to provide sensitive voter information. James added that this resistance extends to other areas of federal-state tension, including immigration enforcement, which she also discussed during the interview.
Millions protest to defend political institutions
James linked these legal disputes to broader public reaction, pointing to protests that have followed recent federal actions tied to election administration. She said the Fulton County raid, connected to renewed scrutiny of the 2020 election, has intensified public concern.
“People are very concerned and that’s why millions are taking to the streets,” James said. She framed the demonstrations as a response to what she views as sustained pressure on voting rights and election integrity, positioning the actions of state attorneys general as part of a wider effort to defend democratic institutions.
