The subpoenas mark an escalation of the Trump administration’s continuing efforts to scrutinize perceived political adversaries of the president. James investigated Mr. Trump before his 2024 election victory. The New York Times first reported the subpoenas.

James’ attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement, “Investigating the fraud case Attorney General James won against President Trump and his businesses has to be the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign.” 

Lowell accused the Trump administration of “[w]eaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected official for doing her job” and said it was “an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration.”  

“If prosecutors carry out this improper tactic and are genuinely interested in the truth, we are ready and waiting with the facts and the law,” Lowell said. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Matthew Mosk

contributed to this report.