Letitia James adopted a rally-like tone reminiscent of Trump’s style as she spoke outside a Virginia courthouse, following her plea of not guilty to two serious charges: bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

James appeared in the Eastern District of Virginia courtroom shortly after 11 AM ET, where she officially entered her plea of not guilty.

The charges, brought by federal prosecutors under the leadership of Donald Trump’s preferred DOJ attorney, Lindsey Halligan, allege that James provided misleading information to a bank to secure a better loan for purchasing a residence in Virginia.

Addressing her supporters outside the courthouse, James claimed that her prosecution was a form of ‘weaponizing the DOJ for revenge’ orchestrated by the Trump administration.

“I will not be deterred. I will not be distracted. I will do my job each and every day, and that’s why I’m heading back to New York because there is work to be done,” she declared.

As she attempted to give her remarks, crowds of unknown supporters could be heard chanting, ‘ We stand with you!’ 

Trump would often have a large fan base waiting for his arrival and departure throughout his many court appearances in New York. 

James’ rally style press conference was oddly similar to the bombastic statements made by Trump each time he left the courthouse during his 2024 civil and criminal cases in New York. 

She is now mimicking the political mannerisms of Trump, the man she once successfully sued for fraud years ago. 

James is accused of claiming her Virginia residence was a second residential home instead of an investment property in order for her to obtain better terms on her mortgage agreement.

New York Attorney General Letitia James copied Trump’s rally-style courthouse antics while speaking to supporters following her not guilty plea

The DOJ’s case is being led by Eastern District of Virginia attorney Lindsey Halligan

James successfully sued Trump during the 2024 election for fraud but the $500 million penalty was later overturned

The indictment claims James saved nearly $19,000 on a $109,600 mortgage for her property in Norfolk, Virginia.

The indictment, obtained by the Daily Mail, states she signed a ‘Second Home Rider, which required James, as the sole borrower, to occupy and use the property as her secondary residence, and prohibits its use as a timesharing or other shared ownership agreement or agreement that requires her to rent the property or give any other person control over the occupancy or use of the property.

‘Despite these representations, the Peronne Property was not occupied by James as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property, renting the property to a family of [three],’ it continues.

If found guilty, James could face up to 30 years in prison per count, along with a $1 million fine on each count and lose ownership of the properties cited in the indictment.

James has denied any wrongdoing and has called the DOJ’s indictment ‘a continuation of the President’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.’

The New York attorney general is a longtime political enemy of Trump after she successfully sued the president and his Trump Organization for fraud. 

Trump was ordered by a New York judge to pay $500 million penalty in early 2024 before he won the election. A New York appeals court later overturned the fine. 

James’ lawyers plan to have the case thrown out, according court filings, by arguing that Halligan was improperly appointed by the Justice Department.

James’ attorney claims that Halligan was improperly appointed by the DOJ

The Daily Mail earlier this month that James’ grandniece, Nakia Thompson, is living in one of the Virginia properties at the center of the criminal case since 2020. 

The niece is listed by law enforcement authorities in Forsyth County, North Carolina, as an ‘absconder.’