New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a renewed warning to President Trump this week, declaring that she plans to keep fighting what she called the state’s powerful “oligarchs” and promising to “sue, baby, sue.”
James did not name Trump during an address to supporters Friday at the SOMOS political conference in Puerto Rico. Still, her remarks signaled that she intends to continue pursuing cases involving the president after winning re-election to another four-year term Tuesday.
“Mortgages are too high, interest rates are too high, car insurance is too high,” James said to applause.
“We’ve got to make sure all of the oligarchs at the top are responsible for imposing these high costs on New Yorkers and Americans.”
“I’m excited to get back to work and use the law — both as a sword and as a shield — and sue, baby, sue, with all of you! God bless you, and thank you.”
James, who has faced accusations of pursuing politically motivated cases against Trump and his allies, has reportedly sued the president, his administration and his businesses more than 70 times since taking office in 2019.
She secured a $454 million civil judgment against Trump’s business in a case alleging that it inflated the value of its assets. A state appeals court overturned that ruling last year.
On Saturday, Gov. Kathy Hochul used the conference’s annual SOMOS Labor Breakfast to promote her pledge to expand universal child care across New York by 2028. Her appearance came as pressure grows from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his progressive allies to raise taxes following the Democrats’ strong showing in the midterms.
“I’ve already invested $12 billion in child care — $4.5 billion this year alone — but I have made a commitment. I want a fully universal 4-K program across the state of New York by 2028,” Hochul said.
The governor also struggled with an attempted joke about persuading a young family to remain in New York rather than relocate to Philadelphia.
“I said, why do you want to go to Philadelphia? You like the Knicks better or something?” she said, then appeared to realize the joke had missed its mark.
“I don’t understand. You don’t like the Knicks? You like the 76ers? I don’t understand. I don’t understand. Thank you. The Knicks are here. But he said he wanted to go because they couldn’t afford the rent and child care on top of it.”
Hochul and Mamdani, who also attended the breakfast, declined to speak with reporters afterward.