An attorney for President-elect Donald Trump fired back at New York Attorney General Letitia James after she appeared to warn she could continue to pursue charges against him despite his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
James made her remarks during a press conference on Wednesday following Trump’s historic win.
“So here we are. We’ve studied their platforms. We’ve identified certain possibilities, fact patterns. We’ve created contingency plans. So no matter what the next administration throws at us, we’re ready,” she told reporters.
“We’re ready to respond to any attempts to cut or eliminate any funding to the great state of New York as the governor outlined. So despite what has happened on the national stage, we will continue to stand tall in the face of injustice, revenge, or retribution, protect and our most vulnerable and marginalized amongst us. Because it is my sworn duty and responsibility to lead that fight, working with the governor of this great state, Kathy Hochul,” she continued.
She added: “This is not the time to be fearful, New York, but faithful and steadfast, knowing that I, as the Attorney General, along with my entire team, are guardians of the law. And we are prepared, my friends, to fight back. Thank you.”
Those comments did not sit well with Trump lawyer Mike Davis, who — during an appearance on conservative podcaster Bennie Johnson’s show — issued a threat of his own.
“Let me just say this to Big Tish James, the New York Attorney General. I dare you to continue your law-fare against President Trump!” Davis said. “Listen here, sweetheart, we’re not messing around this time, and we will put your fat a** in prison for conspiracy against rights. I promise you that.”
Meanwhile, the judge who oversaw Trump’s so-called “hush money” case, in which he was convicted of felonies, is considering tossing the case entirely.
Trump is set to be sentenced in the case on Nov. 26, but the New York Post reports that Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan may simply toss out the convictions. He reportedly will decide by next Tuesday, the outlet said.
Trump’s overwhelming election win will further embolden his legal team “to make sure that sentencing never happens,” CNN chief legal affairs correspondent Paula Reid noted late Wednesday.
“Here, they’re going to argue to the judge that the sentencing should never happen because now that Trump is president-elect,” Reid reported. “They will say that he is entitled to the same constitutional protections as a sitting president and should be protected from state actors, and in this case, state prosecutors.”
Trump faces a potential sentence of up to four years in prison after being convicted on 34 counts of felony falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
Some legal experts have already predicted Trump won’t face any prison time.
“Merchan doesn’t have the stomach to imprison a former president or president-elect,” former prosecutor Neama Rahmani said. “Now that Trump has won, his criminal problems go away.”
For his part, Trump has begun building his team to begin his next term.
Susie Wiles, who was co-chair of Trump’s wildy successful 2024 campaign, was named as his chief of staff to begin his second term.
Wiles used to work for Trump’s Save America super PAC and was a point person for the president’s campaign in Florida during his winning 2016 campaign.
The Trump campaign revealed Wiles’ appointment on Thursday.