ALBANY – New York Lawyer Common Letitia James might soak taxpayers for tens of millions of {dollars} in authorized payments as she fights her new federal indictment — however she says she received’t be tapping into the $10 million state authorized protection slush fund arrange for that objective.
As a substitute, she’s turning to the nationwide Democratic Attorneys Common Affiliation to cowl her authorized protection payments in opposition to the bombshell mortgage fraud expenses filed in opposition to her Thursday – which might run within the tens of millions, based on specialists.
“I feel all in, it’s in all probability going to be within the vary of $5 to $10 million,” former prosecutor Neama Rahmani advised The Publish Friday.
James has introduced on high-profile protection lawyer Abbe Lowell, who might be billing over $1,000 an hour and taking a $1 million retainer price primarily based on the going fee for high attorneys, Rahmani stated.
However authorized eagles additionally stated that some attorneys 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 feel a variety of wonderful attorneys could be completely happy to step up and do that free of charge,” former prosecutor Duncan Levin stated.
A spokesperson for James’ workplace advised The Publish 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 availability to arrange the fund – first revealed by The Publish – was quietly tucked into the state price range by Albany lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this yr.
GOP lawmakers railed in opposition to the measure earlier than it was rammed by way of by the Democratic-controlled legislature.
James has denied the costs in opposition to 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 working for re-election subsequent yr and signaled her endorsement for Hochul’s personal bid over the summer time — quashing the suggestion she’d mount a main marketing campaign in opposition to 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 offered 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 might dip into.
It stays unclear as to who’s funding the trouble and the way a lot it has within the financial institution for James at this level.
The web site for individuals to donate to the DAGA authorized protection fund appears to indicate that it’s going to not be a separate entity from the group.
“Contributions shall be used at DAGA’s sole discretion to assist its packages and actions. DAGA could use all or a part of a contributor’s funds, and disclose them as obligatory, 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 assist packages and actions associated to authorized efforts that promote democracy.”
If the fund is successfully dealt with in-house, it means DAGA might lump the authorized protection donors in with the tons of of hundreds of {dollars} of contributions it already will get from tons of of companies and different people on public filings.
DAGA didn’t reply to questions from The Publish.
