Overview
- James filed a motion on Friday seeking dismissal of the two-count indictment, asserting vindictive and selective prosecution driven by the president’s animus.
- Her lawyers attached more than 350 of Trump’s public statements to support the claim and cited alleged disparate treatment of other officials with similar mortgage issues.
- James has pleaded not guilty to bank fraud and false-statement charges tied to a Norfolk, Virginia home that prosecutors say was misrepresented as a secondary residence, allegedly yielding about $19,000 in savings.
- U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker set a Dec. 5 hearing on the motion, and prosecutors are due to respond later this month.
- James is also contesting Lindsey Halligan’s authority as the Eastern District of Virginia U.S. attorney and seeking to quash a separate DOJ subpoena, as legal experts note such dismissal bids face a high bar with trial set for Jan. 26, 2026.