"The development comes as Trump administration officials have been aggressively pursuing allegations against James arising from alleged paperwork discrepancies on her Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home. The Justice Department has spent months conducting the investigation but has yet to bring charges, and it's not clear that prosecutors have managed to uncover any degree of incriminating evidence necessary to secure an indictment."
"To the extent the effort to replace Siebert is designed to hasten criminal charges, the move is likely to deepen concerns that the department already investigating other public figures President Donald Trump regards as foes is being weaponized by a White House seeking to have its prosecutorial powers used for purposes of retribution. James' lawyers have vigorously denied any allegations and characterized the investigation as an act of political revenge."
Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia overseeing a mortgage fraud probe into New York Attorney General Letitia James, was told to resign or face firing. The decision occurred amid pressure from Trump administration officials seeking criminal charges related to alleged paperwork discrepancies on James' Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home. Prosecutors have investigated for months without filing charges and have not found sufficient evidence for an indictment. It was unclear who ordered Siebert's removal or what reason was provided. Spokespeople for Siebert's office and the Justice Department declined to comment. Critics warn the move could deepen concerns about politicizing prosecutorial power. James' lawyers deny wrongdoing and call the probe political revenge.
Read at www.bostonherald.com
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