New York Assistant Attorney General Daniel Wiesenfeld has accused New York Attorney General Letitia James' office of abuses of power, alleging the misuse of taxpayer dollars for politically motivated investigations. In an email to approximately 2,000 staff members, Wiesenfeld stated that the office was targeting "convenient public enemies" without sufficient cause.
Wiesenfeld claimed that his direct superior, Investor Protection Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe, instructed him to target "Trump himself, Truth Social, Hewlett Packard (DOJ approved merger)" without first establishing a credible reason for these actions. While Wiesenfeld's direct allegations do not explicitly name James, he believes Maswoswe was acting on orders from the Attorney General. James' office has denied the allegations and placed Wiesenfeld on leave.
These claims emerge as James faces a challenge from her Republican opponent, Saritha Komatireddy, in the upcoming election. Komatireddy has previously criticized James for alleged mismanagement of funds, including spending on outside lawyers and allocating significant taxpayer money to certain nonprofits.
Komatireddy, a career prosecutor, was promoted to high office by former President Barack Obama and received multiple awards for her work in prosecuting terrorists and drug lords. The New York Post noted that James has previously focused on prosecuting law enforcement officers and political opponents.