New York Attorney-General Letitia James speaks to reporters outside the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, in Norfolk, Va., on Friday.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

New York Attorney-General Letitia James, a long-time critic of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty in federal court on Friday to charges related to allegedly lying on mortgage documents.

James, a Democrat who last year secured a US$450-million civil fraud judgment against Trump, is one of three perceived enemies that the Republican president’s administration has brought criminal charges against in the past month, along with former FBI Director James Comey and former National Security Adviser John Bolton. All three have denied wrongdoing.

Appearing before a federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia, James said: “Not guilty, judge, to both counts.” A trial set was set for Jan. 26, 2026.

Outside of the federal courthouse, supporters of James gathered with signs where they chanted: “Hey hey! Ho ho! Let Letitia James go!” and “This is what democracy looks like.”

In a fiery speech, a defiant James thanked the crowd for their support after she exited the courthouse.

“This is not about me,” she said. “This is about all of us. About a justice system which has been weaponized. A justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge,” she said.

“So there’s no fear today,” she said, as the crowd chanted back: “No fear!”

“I believe justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream,” James said. Trump has promised to seek retribution against people he alleges used the justice system against him in an effort to prevent him from returning to power. He pressured Attorney-General Pam Bondi to speed up the action, and replaced the prior U.S. attorney overseeing the James and Comey cases with a loyalist after that lead prosecutor expressed concerns with the strength of the evidence in both matters.

Two other Trump rivals – Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook – remain under criminal investigation and have also denied wrongdoing.