Zohran Mamdani Defends Letitia James, Accuses Trump of ‘Authoritarian Retaliation’

NEW YORK CITY — Democratic rising star and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani delivered a fiery defense of Attorney General Letitia James on Friday, condemning what he called a “sham prosecution” driven by Donald Trump’s political vendetta.

Speaking to a packed crowd in Manhattan, Mamdani declared that Trump’s Justice Department was targeting James “because she did the right thing.”

“Donald Trump is coming after her because she held him to account,” Mamdani said. “She showed that no man — and no wannabe king — is above the law.”

Mamdani praised James as “one of the greatest champions of this state” and vowed that New Yorkers would not be intimidated by what he described as an “authoritarian administration.”

“When we reject Donald Trump’s vision — one of cruelty, punishment, smallness, and betrayal — we do it with our own vision of solidarity,” Mamdani said to cheers. “And when it comes to Letitia James, we have her back.”

The comments came hours after James entered a not guilty plea to federal charges of bank fraud and false statements — charges that legal analysts and supporters have widely dismissed as politically motivated retaliation. The case was filed shortly after Trump publicly called for James’s prosecution, accusing her of “corruption” for leading the civil investigation that resulted in a $500 million judgment against the former president (later overturned on appeal).

After her court appearance, James said Trump was “weaponizing the justice system” and using it as “a tool for revenge.” She added that she remained confident in the truth:

“Justice will rain down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Mamdani echoed that sentiment, expressing faith in both James’s integrity and the resilience of the rule of law.

“We know she’ll emerge from this the same way she came into it — as an advocate for the people of this city, this state, and this country,” he said. “She will continue this fight, and we will continue alongside her.”

The speech quickly went viral online, with Democrats praising Mamdani’s resolve and framing his remarks as a rallying cry for unity amid what they see as the most brazen partisan abuse of the Justice Department in modern history.

“This is what real leadership looks like,” one supporter posted. “Standing up for justice when it’s under attack.”