Former Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her concerns regarding the recent indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James during an event in Washington, DC, on Thursday. The event, aimed at promoting her book about the 2024 presidential campaign, was notably disrupted by demonstrators protesting Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Harris remarked, “Today, I learned that the attorney general in New York just got indicted,” highlighting the contentious atmosphere surrounding the event.
During her address, Harris referenced the previous prosecutor who reviewed the case against James, identifying him as a “very conservative Republican” who concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the indictment. Harris, who has a background as the district attorney in San Francisco and as the attorney general of California, criticized the handling of the Justice Department under the Trump administration. She specifically called out US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a former personal attorney to Trump, for pursuing charges against James and former FBI Director James Comey.
Harris vehemently condemned the actions of the Trump administration, stating, “Trump puts in place an incompetent person to make the decision to implement his vengeance agenda.” She pointed out the irony of the indictment, asserting that it was particularly troubling that the attorney general of New York faced legal action when a previous prosecutor, who likely did not support her politically, had deemed the evidence insufficient.
On the same day as Harris's remarks, Letitia James was indicted in Alexandria, Virginia, amid ongoing efforts by Trump’s Justice Department to target his political adversaries. James has been under scrutiny since May for alleged mortgage fraud, following her successful civil fraud case against Trump in 2022.
As Harris continued her speech, she faced multiple interruptions from protesters, with one individual shouting, “Your legacy is genocide.” Frustrated by the disruptions, Harris responded to a protester, “You know what, I am not president of the United States,” and encouraged them to address their concerns directly to President Trump. Her interactions with the crowd underscored the charged political environment surrounding her appearance.
In addition to discussing the indictment, Harris addressed the administration's controversial immigration enforcement policies and the deployment of the National Guard to major cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles. “I leave and go to Chicago tomorrow, where there are Black Hawks – which are vehicles for war against enemies,” she remarked, condemning the militarization of American cities as an attempt to instill fear among the populace.
Amid a looming government shutdown and concerns about potential layoffs of federal workers, Harris urged those in civil service to persevere in their roles. “I ask you to stay there, because when this is over, there’s gonna be a whole lot of debris and broken stuff,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of their work. She reassured federal employees that their contributions are valued, contrasting their noble service with Trump’s repeated criticisms of federal workers.
Harris’s remarks reflect the ongoing political tensions and challenges facing the current administration as it navigates complex issues such as legal accountability, immigration policy, and national security.
