New York’s incoming attorney general vowed to investigate “anyone” in President Trump’s orbit, including the president and his family, when she officially takes the reins next month.
“We will use every area of the law to investigate President Trump and his business transactions and that of his family as well,” Letitia James, a Democrat, told NBC News. “We want to investigate anyone in his orbit who has, in fact, violated the law.”
James said those investigations could include any illegalities involving Trump’s real estate holdings in the state, the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian official, any government subsidies Trump has received, whether he’s in violation of the emoluments clause in the Constitution, and continuing an investigation into the Trump Foundation.
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The attorney general-elect said she also wants to have the ability to bring state charges against anyone who is pardoned on federal charges or convictions for crimes committed in New York. A president cannot pardon people who are charged with or are convicted of state-level crimes.
James may not be able to do so under current New York law.
“I think within the first 100 days this bill will be passed,” she said. “It is a priority because I have concerns with respect to the possibility that this administration might pardon some individuals who might face some criminal charges, but I do not want them to be immune from state charges.”
