President Donald Trump targeted New York state Attorney General Letitia James in his most recent Twitter rant aimed at a Black woman.
Trump launched into a conspiratorial Twitter rant Monday accusing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of using James to attack his businesses. In a series of tweets, the business mogul claimed the investigations into his Trump Foundation are baseless, politically motivated attacks.
"It is very hard and expensive to live in New York," Trump ranted. "Governor Andrew Cuomo uses his Attorney General as a bludgeoning tool for his own purposes. They sue on everything, always in search of a crime. I even got sued on a Foundation which took Zero rent & expenses & gave away more money than it had."
According to NBC News, the charitable Trump Foundation was investigated initially by former attorney generals Eric Schneiderman and Barbara Underwood. They found substantial evidence showing a pattern of illegality. In a deal forged between Trump and the AG's office, the foundation was dissolved and assets were given away to other nonprofits in December.
However, the deal was not enough. The New York attorney general's office sought $3 million in restitution, NBC News reports.
When James came aboard, she filed court documents connecting the foundation to the 2016 presidential campaign. The AG's office also won a court order banning the president, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump from operating any New York charities for at least a decade, Politico reports.
Trump harped on these past losses in the tweetstorm. He even invoked former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton's name in an attempt to show political bias.
"Going on for years, originally brought by Crooked Hillary’s Campaign Chair, A.G. Eric Schneiderman, until forced to resign for abuse against women," he claimed. "They never even looked at the disgusting Clinton Foundation.”
As the 73-year-old's tweets picked up steam, James stepped in and defended herself. She boldly stated she will uphold the law no matter what threats come her way. "Make no mistake: No one is above the law, not even the President," she wrote.
The president failed to mention the 60-year-old's name in the tweets, despite being directly aimed her. So, she reminded him if he wants to be bold enough to call someone out, be bold enough to say their name.
As the elected AG of NY, I have a sworn duty to protect & uphold state law. My office will follow the facts of any case, wherever they lead.
Make no mistake: No one is above the law, not even the President.
P.S. My name is Letitia James. (You can call me Tish.) https://t.co/GXkZ2QVWqE
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) July 1, 2019
In a conference call Monday, Cuomo told reporters the president's "paranoia is once again getting the better of him.”
"The people of the state choose the attorney general. So his suggestion that it’s my attorney general is just incorrect. I don’t have an attorney general,” Cuomo said, adding of Trump: “If he has nothing to hide, he has nothing to worry about.”
The latest feud comes after James announced the opening of a Diversity and Inclusion Office. According to The New York Law Journal, the new office will foster initiatives that make diversity in the workplace a priority. It will reportedly be headed by Sandra Grannum, a nearly 17-year veteran of the Attorney General’s Office.
"New York’s vitality is in its rich diversity,” James said in the announcement. “My office is deeply committed to creating an environment of acceptance and open-mindedness, both internally and throughout the state.”
