Letitia James, 2024
Attorney General of New York, American lawyer and politician
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“I come from a long line of very strong, tough women. We stick to our principles and stand up for what we believe in, which is fundamental fairness, which is my raison d'etre.”
—Letitia James
Serving since January 1, 2019 as the Attorney General of New York, James is the first African American and first woman to be elected New York Attorney General. Among other suits filed, in early March 2020, the attorney general's office investigated allegations of COVID-19-related neglect of residents in nursing homes. Their office receiving 953 complaints from patients' families regarding neglect of patients. In August 2020, James filed a civil lawsuit in New York Supreme Court against the National Rifle Association of America, accusing the organization of corruption and financial misconduct, and calling for its dissolution. And in 2022, James filed a civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization and worked alongside the Manhattan district attorney's office in its criminal investigation of the organization. This case proved successful. On February 16, 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron's 92-page ruling barred Trump from operating any business in New York for three years and fined him more than $355 million.