ALBANY – New York Lawyer Common Letitia James may soak taxpayers for tens of millions of {dollars} in authorized payments as she fights her new federal indictment — however she says she gained’t be tapping into the $10 million state authorized protection slush fund arrange for that function.
As an alternative, she’s turning to the nationwide Democratic Attorneys Common Affiliation to cowl her authorized protection payments towards the bombshell mortgage fraud expenses filed towards her Thursday – which may run within the tens of millions, in response to consultants.
“I believe all in, it’s in all probability going to be within the vary of $5 to $10 million,” former prosecutor Neama Rahmani advised The Submit Friday.
James has introduced on high-profile protection lawyer Abbe Lowell, who could possibly be billing over $1,000 an hour and taking a $1 million retainer payment primarily based on the going price for prime legal professionals, Rahmani mentioned.
However authorized eagles additionally mentioned that some legal professionals could even take up the case pro-bono given its high-profile nature and a few left-leaning attorneys’ political convictions to face up for James, a Democrat.
“I believe a number of wonderful attorneys could be blissful to step up and do that totally free,” former prosecutor Duncan Levin mentioned.
A spokesperson for James’ workplace advised The Submit Friday that she wouldn’t be tapping into the state fund to pay for her protection, after initially saying she would use it.
The state comptroller’s workplace confirmed that not one of the $10 million within the stash has been drawn.
The supply to arrange the fund – first revealed by The Submit – was quietly tucked into the state finances by Albany lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this yr.
GOP lawmakers railed towards the measure earlier than it was rammed via by the Democratic-controlled legislature.
James has denied the fees towards her and claimed President Trump is concentrating on her for political causes.
She’s anticipated to make her first look in federal court docket in Virginia on Oct. 24.
The AG is operating for re-election subsequent yr and signaled her endorsement for Hochul’s personal bid over the summer season — quashing the suggestion she’d mount a major marketing campaign towards the incumbent as she did briefly forward of the 2022 gubernatorial race.
James, who was first elected in 2018, makes $220,000 a yr as lawyer common.
On her 2024 monetary disclosure supplied to New York’s ethics panel, she reported additionally making between $5,000-$20,000 from her adjunct professor gig at Columbia College and $20,000 to $50,000 on her rental property in Brooklyn.
DAGA, a well-funded Dem AG’s group, introduced the creation of its authorized protection fund late final month that James and different officers may dip into.
It stays unclear as to who’s funding the hassle and the way a lot it has within the financial institution for James at this level.
The web site for folks to donate to the DAGA authorized protection fund appears to suggest that it’s going to not be a separate entity from the group.
“Contributions shall be used at DAGA’s sole discretion to help its applications and actions. DAGA could use all or a part of a contributor’s funds, and disclose them as vital, in states of its selecting,” a blurb on the donation web page reads.
“Contributions to DAGA Authorized Protection Fund shall be used on the sole discretion of DAGA to help applications and actions associated to authorized efforts that promote democracy.”
If the fund is successfully dealt with in-house, it means DAGA may lump the authorized protection donors in with the a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} of contributions it already will get from a whole lot of companies and different people on public filings.
DAGA didn’t reply to questions from The Submit.
