Despite a mountain of of legal trouble, ranging from bank fraud to mortgage fraud to Department of Justice subpoenas investigating her office in criminal “selective enforcement” of laws, New York Attorney General Letitia James is still seeking a third term for the Empire State’s top prosecutor.
But a rising Republican star with a tough-on-crime background has suddenly emerged who could finally end James’ scandal-ridden career.
Former federal prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy is set to announce her run for the GOP nomination today, according to The New York Post.
Komatireddy most recently worked in the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District in Brooklyn, serving as chief of International Narcotics and Money Laundering, Deputy Chief of Appeals and Deputy Chief of General Crimes, and is widely known for prosecuting some of the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists.
“I’ve spent over a decade in the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuting the worst of the worst. Terrorists, murderers, fraudsters, and hackers,” Komatireddy said.
Komatireddy also noted that she has taken on cases involving al Qaeda, ISIS, and the Sinaloa cartel. Now, she wants to revitalize New York’s attorney general’s office.
“Now, I want to get the attorney general’s office back to basics — protecting New Yorkers and locking up criminals. Under Letitia James, the AG’s office has become preoccupied with partisan vendetta, and lost sight of what matters to most New Yorkers.”
Komatireddy also said the bottom line is “if New York isn’t safe, nothing else matters.”
“If elected, I’ll focus all my energy on the safety of the people of New York – from Bethpage to Buffalo, Staten Island to Saratoga Springs, the people of the Empire State will be able to trust that they have an Attorney General focused on keeping them safe.”
In addition to her staunch career as one of New York’s top lawyers, Komatireddy also served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanagugh when he was on the US Court of Appeals.
She is also a recipient of multiple attorney general awards and is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.
She has also lectured at Columbia University Law School for over a decade.
However, despite her credentials, she still would need to emerge from a crowded Republican field aiming to run against James.
Other top Republicans interested in running for the seat include Michael Henry, the 2022 GOP candidate for AG, and crypto lawyer Khurram Dara.
Dara most recently led regulatory and policy at Bain Capital Crypto, the well-known firm’s dedicated crypto venture fund.
According to representatives for Dara, if elected he pledges to end lawfare — when prosecutors use legal tactics for political ends — fairly enforce the law and create a better business climate to help fight the affordability crisis.
James was recently indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and charged with mortgage fraud concerning residential properties she owns in Virginia. She denies the charges.
James gained notoriety over the criminal cases brought against President Trump, the National Rifle Association, as well as an investigation into sexual misconduct accusations that forced the resignation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
However, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed criminal cases against James last Monday,