New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing mounting scrutiny after an attorney inside her office met with federal investigators over allegations that prosecutors were pressured to target President Donald Trump and people associated with him.
Daniel Wiesenfeld, an assistant attorney general and former Brooklyn prosecutor, met Tuesday with criminal and civil attorneys from the FBI and Justice Department for “several hours.” The extent of the federal government’s interest remains unclear, and authorities have not announced charges against James or other officials.
An X post circulating as the controversy unfolded highlighted Wiesenfeld’s allegations and the growing federal interest in his claims.
Wiesenfeld has been placed on paid administrative leave after sending an email to colleagues accusing his supervisor, Investor Protection Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe, of instructing him “to find and pursue crimes” involving Trump allies.
The email was subsequently deleted, but its contents were leaked and reported publicly.
Wiesenfeld alleged that investigators were directed toward Trump, Truth Social and Hewlett-Packard without what he considered a credible reason for targeting those individuals and organizations.
The prosecutor drew a direct comparison between his allegations and Democratic accusations that Trump has used federal law enforcement against political opponents.
“If you believe Trump is using the Department of Justice attorneys to prosecute his enemies to further his political interests, you should find it equally troubling that Tish [James] is doing exactly the same thing,” Wiesenfeld wrote, according to the leaked email.
Wiesenfeld then urged his colleagues to investigate crimes first rather than identifying individuals they wanted to investigate and subsequently searching for wrongdoing.
“I ask you that you not serve as Tish’s personal attorneys by targeting her political enemies,” Wiesenfeld wrote. “Instead, I hope you choose to prosecute crimes and find the individuals accountable, rather than targeting individuals and then finding crimes.”
James’ office has strongly rejected allegations that it conducts investigations based on political affiliation.
“The office of the attorney general is committed to upholding New York’s laws and protecting the rights and freedoms of all New Yorkers, regardless of political beliefs,” the office said. “We strongly reject any assertion to the contrary.”
The attorney general’s office has characterized the controversy surrounding Wiesenfeld as a “personnel matter.”
Wiesenfeld himself has remained publicly silent since the allegations emerged. His attorney, Levi Stoep, said his client had “no public comment at the current time.”
The Trump White House, meanwhile, seized on the allegations to renew its criticism of James and her yearslong legal campaign against the president.
“This is more proof of the weaponization of the justice system by Letitia James to target President Trump and her political opponents,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said. “The far-left Democrats’ lawfare against President Trump, his family must stop.”
James and Trump have been political adversaries for years.
During her successful 2018 campaign for New York attorney general, James pledged to pursue Trump over potential violations of state law. After taking office, she ultimately brought a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, his two eldest sons and the Trump Organization, per Trending Politics.
A New York judge ruled against Trump in 2024 and imposed a financial penalty exceeding $350 million. An appeals court later upheld the fraud finding while eliminating the massive monetary penalty.
The whistleblower controversy has also placed renewed attention on Maswoswe, the bureau chief whom Wiesenfeld accused of directing him to pursue Trump-linked targets.
Maswoswe previously worked for the Justice Department but was fired during Trump’s first administration. She later sued the department alleging discrimination based on race, gender and parenting responsibilities.
That case was settled for $795,000 in 2023 during the Biden administration, a year after Maswoswe joined James’ office.
The allegations remain unproven, and neither James nor Maswoswe has been charged with criminal wrongdoing in connection with Wiesenfeld’s claims. It also remains unclear whether his meeting with federal attorneys is part of a formal investigation or a preliminary review.
The development nevertheless marks a significant escalation from an internal dispute to direct discussions between the whistleblower and federal investigators.
The controversy comes amid continued political battles involving Trump and his opponents, including a recent dispute in which CNN issued an on-air correction concerning Trump’s mail-in voting executive order.
With Wiesenfeld now having spent hours speaking directly with FBI and Justice Department attorneys, federal authorities are examining his account even as James’ office maintains that it does not target New Yorkers based on their political beliefs.
