Letitia James loves to paint herself as the toughest fighter for justice in New York, but the facts tell a very different story. As part of a massive investigation into Medicaid fraud, federal agents on Tuesday raided multiple Brooklyn adult day-care facilities. While thieves steal billions from our state, James has done almost nothing to stop them, proving she just isn’t bothered to do her actual job.
The situation is even worse when you look at convicted Wall Street con man Daniel Gordon. He faces $59 million in unpaid taxes and penalties owed to California while living it up there. James’ office has done virtually nothing to pursue him, even though a simple phone call to state tax authorities could get the ball rolling. Instead, she twiddles her thumbs while criminals walk free.
Victims Speak Out Against James
On Tuesday, Saritha Komatireddy, the Republican challenger, rallied with families of six serious crime victims who are furious at the current administration. These New Yorkers are tired of being ignored by leaders who seem to care more about protecting criminals than helping victims. Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, promised to fix this if she wins the election next month.
“In New York today, the reality is, criminals have more of an audience with our elected officials than crime victims,” Komatireddy said during a press conference outside James’ Lower Manhattan office, according to the New York Post. She unveiled a plan to create a “Victims Advisory Council” inside the AG’s office to ensure families finally have a direct line to the top.
Real People, Real Loss
The families standing with Komatireddy have lost everything due to the state’s lax laws. Tatiana Brahimi, a mother from Putnam County whose 18-year-old son was killed in a 2016 brawl, said she doesn’t trust politicians but believes in Komatireddy. “Letitia James and all those cronies before her do not care about us. I buried a child. How many of us are burying our loved ones? The government doesn’t care. We need people like Saritha, who cares,” Brahimi told reporters.
Madeline Brame lost two sons, one stabbed to death in Harlem and another to a fentanyl overdose, and she echoed that sentiment. Teresa Bliss pointed out that the system is broken from probation failures to a lack of proper family notification. “This is exactly why victims and surviving families need a permanent voice,” she said.
A Choice For New Yorkers
It is clear that James prefers to investigate cops or burn resources on legal warfare against Donald Trump rather than fight street crime or fraud. A whistleblower in her own office even says that fighting Trump is practically all she cares about. New Yorkers deserve an attorney general prioritizing the public interest rather than a politician chasing headlines.
The election is on November 3, and this race is about more than just party lines. It is about whether we want an official who fights for the people or one who ignores them. If James continues to ignore the billions lost to fraud and the families grieving violent deaths, she has no business holding the office of Attorney General.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
