A Virginia federal prosecutor just got the boot for allegedly mishandling evidence in a high-stakes case involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The story unfolding in the Eastern District of Virginia's Norfolk office is a tangled web of alleged bank fraud, internal dissent, and accusations of political revenge, centering on James’ 2020 property purchase.
The Daily Mail reported that Assistant US Attorney Elizabeth Yusi, a seasoned Department of Justice veteran since 2010, was fired earlier this month from the Norfolk office.
Reports from CNN indicate Yusi sent sensitive documents containing James’ personal information to a non-work email, a move that violates DOJ policy, even if not outright illegal.
Sources suggest this mishandling played a role in her dismissal, alongside fellow prosecutor Kristin Bird, who also clashed with the case’s direction, per CBS.
Before her firing, Yusi vocally opposed charging James with bank fraud and making false statements tied to a $109,600 three-bedroom home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia.
She penned an internal memo arguing the evidence against James was insufficient, a stance that put her at odds with the Trump-appointed interim US Attorney, Lindsey Halligan.
Halligan, undeterred by the pushback, personally filed the indictment, accusing James of misleading a bank to snag better loan terms, saving nearly $19,000 by claiming the property as a second home rather than an investment.
On Friday, James entered a not guilty plea to the charges of bank fraud and false statements, which carry a potential 60-year sentence and $2 million fine if convicted.
Her legal team is fighting back, aiming to dismiss the case by challenging Halligan’s appointment as improper, according to court filings.
James didn’t hold back outside the courthouse, telling supporters the Trump administration is “weaponizing the DOJ for revenge” against her long-standing opposition to the former president.
Democrats are crying foul, alleging Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to target James, alongside other political adversaries like James Comey and Adam Schiff.
Given James’ history of successfully suing Trump and his organization for fraud—a case that initially saw a $500 million penalty before an appeals court reversal—it’s hard not to see why suspicions of political payback are swirling.
But let’s be clear: if the allegations of lying to a bank hold water, personal grudges shouldn’t shield anyone from accountability, no matter how progressive their agenda.
Back in Virginia, the case sparked internal chaos, with Halligan reportedly worried that attorneys in her office were leaking sensitive details to the press.
Meanwhile, Yusi’s lawyer, Margaret Donovan, pushed back hard, stating, “Ms. Yusi has never used her personal email account for any portion of any investigation” and has “no record of any such email.”
Donovan’s defense paints Yusi as a respected professional with nearly 20 years of service, but the question lingers—did principle or protocol violations lead to her exit?
This saga is far from over, blending serious allegations of financial misconduct with whispers of political vendettas that could undermine trust in our justice system.
James remains defiant, and while her track record against Trump earns her no sympathy in conservative circles, the specter of a weaponized DOJ is a concern for anyone who values fairness over factionalism.