Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Sunday that Americans “should be forcefully rising up” against the federal government following the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James on federal bank-fraud charges.
His comments came during [1] an interview with MSNBC host Al Sharpton.
A federal grand jury indicted James on Thursday in the Eastern District of Virginia, charging her with Bank Fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1344 and False Statements to a Financial Institution under 18 U.S.C. § 1014. The indictment alleges that James made false representations in mortgage documents.
Schumer’s remarks followed days of unrest in cities including Chicago and Portland, where left-wing protesters and Antifa-aligned groups have clashed with federal agents conducting immigration enforcement operations.
During the interview, Schumer accused President Donald Trump of “weaponizing” the Department of Justice to target political opponents.
“They have made the Justice Department, which under every other president, Democrat or Republican, pursued the law and went after people who broke the law — they have made it into Trump’s personal attack dog. That is what dictatorships do. That’s what tyranny is all about,” Schumer said.
He claimed that the case against James lacked merit and that federal prosecutors were acting under political pressure.
“She had a legitimate case, she pursued it, she actually won, so Trump is now trying to get back at her,” Schumer said.
“But the case is so weak that even Trump’s first prosecutor, who he appointed, said there’s not a case here. So, he fired that one and put a new prosecutor in, who would do whatever he wants.”
Schumer said he had spoken with James shortly after the indictment was announced. “She is strong, she is tough, she is resolute, and she is confident, as am I, that these charges will be rejected because they have no basis in law or in fact,” he said.
The senator’s comments referred to Erik Seibert, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Seibert was removed from his position in September after the White House withdrew his nomination.
President Trump addressed the dismissal on Truth Social last month, writing, “I withdrew the Nomination of Erik Seibert as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, when I was informed that he received the UNUSUALLY STRONG support of the two absolutely terrible, sleazebag Democrat Senators, from the Great State of Virginia. He didn’t quit, I fired him! Next time let him go in as a Democrat, not a Republican.”
TRUMP: I WITHDREW THE NOMINATION OF ERIK SIEBERT
“Today I withdrew the nomination of Erik Siebert as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, when I was informed that he received the unusually strong support of the two absolutely terrible, sleazebag Democrat… pic.twitter.com/d1tAv2BSKw [2]
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 20, 2025 [3]
When asked by Sharpton to elaborate on his description of the indictment as “tyranny,” Schumer said that Trump’s actions marked a break from long-standing American norms.
“It is just such a hallmark of tyrannical, autocratic dictatorship societies that they use the prosecutorial department as a political weapon,” Schumer said.
“It is a disgrace, and every American, I don’t care if you’re Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, moderate people, should be forcefully rising up against this, speaking out against it, and making it clear how inimical this is to what our democracy has stood for for more than two centuries.”
Sharpton also referenced a report from the New York Times claiming that property tied to the investigation was classified as an investment property but was being used by relatives who were not paying rent.
Schumer responded that he had not reviewed the affidavits but reiterated his belief that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence.
The indictment of James marks the first time a sitting New York attorney general has been charged with a federal financial crime.
The Justice Department has not issued a statement beyond confirming the charges, and James’s legal team has said she will “vigorously contest” the allegations in court.
James’s arraignment is expected later this month in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.