Exclusive | Former fed prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy to run against embattled NY AG Letitia James
A former federal prosecutor is aiming to secure the Republican nomination to challenge New York’s Democratic Attorney General, Letitia James, who is a prominent foe of President Trump.
Saritha Komatireddy, 41, was scheduled to announce her bid for the GOP nomination on Monday, adding to a growing lineup of Republican hopefuls looking to take on James. During her career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, she held key roles as chief of International Narcotics and Money‑Laundering, Deputy Chief of Appeals, and Deputy Chief of General Crimes.
“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, noting that she has handled cases involving Al Qaeda, ISIS, and the Sinaloa cartel. “Now, I want to bring 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 most to the average New Yorker.”
After a stint as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh while he sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals, Komatireddy will likely need to win a Republican primary before facing James in the general election. Other Republicans contemplating a run include former AG candidate Michael Henry and cryptocurrency lawyer Khurram Dara.
A married mother of four, Komatireddy believes that “if New York isn’t safe, nothing else matters.” She promises to devote her full attention to safeguarding residents from Bethpage to Buffalo, Staten Island to Saratoga Springs, so that citizens can trust their Attorney General is committed to keeping them safe.
A Harvard College and Harvard Law School alumna, Komatireddy has received several attorney‑general awards and has taught at Columbia University Law School for over a decade.
James, who has served as AG since 2019 and is 67 years old, has prosecuted high‑profile government officials. Her office’s investigation into former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s alleged sexual misconduct led to his resignation, despite his denial of the allegations. James also secured a civil fraud conviction against President Trump and the Trump Organization for inflating their net worth to deceive banks and insurers over ten years. That case’s fine—over $500 million—was later struck down by a New York appeals court, and Trump has called the prosecution partisan.
Conversely, the former Trump administration’s Department of Justice indicted James on mortgage‑fraud charges for a residential property she owned in Virginia. She allegedly purchased a three‑bedroom, one‑bathroom home in Norfolk on August 17, 2020, with a $109,600 loan, claiming she would be the sole borrower and occupier. However, her grandniece actually lived there and paid rent, according to federal prosecutors. A federal judge dismissed the indictment last week, ruling that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had no lawful authority to bring the charges, also citing improper appointment. James maintains she is innocent and accuses Trump of using the Justice Department to retaliate against her. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has pledged to appeal the dismissal.
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