New York Assistant Attorney General Daniel Wiesenfeld met with federal investigators on Tuesday, alleging that prosecutors in the state's Attorney General's office were pressured to target President Donald Trump and his associates. Wiesenfeld, a former Brooklyn prosecutor, spent several hours with criminal and civil attorneys from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Justice Department (DOJ), marking a significant escalation of an internal dispute into a federal matter. The precise scope of the federal government's interest remains undefined, and no charges have been brought against Attorney General Letitia James or any other officials involved.
"If you believe Trump is using the Department of Justice attorneys to prosecute his enemies to further his political interests, you should find it equally troubling that Tish [James] is doing exactly the same thing." Daniel Wiesenfeld, New York Assistant Attorney General
The controversy erupted following the leak of an email Wiesenfeld sent to his colleagues. In the email, he accused his supervisor, Investor Protection Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe, of directing him "to find and pursue crimes" involving individuals and organizations linked to President Trump. Wiesenfeld specifically named President Trump, Truth Social, and Hewlett-Packard as targets he believed were pursued without credible investigative reasons. This email, though reportedly deleted, circulated publicly, drawing immediate attention to the allegations. Wiesenfeld has since been placed on paid administrative leave.
In his leaked communication, Wiesenfeld made a direct comparison between his claims and Democratic accusations that President Trump has used federal law enforcement to target political opponents. "If you believe Trump is using the Department of Justice attorneys to prosecute his enemies to further his political interests, you should find it equally troubling that Tish [James] is doing exactly the same thing," Wiesenfeld reportedly wrote. He urged his colleagues to prioritize prosecuting actual crimes over identifying individuals for investigation and then searching for wrongdoing. "I ask you that you not serve as Tish’s personal attorneys by targeting her political enemies," he added. "Instead, I hope you choose to prosecute crimes and find the individuals accountable, rather than targeting individuals and then finding crimes."
The New York Attorney General's office has vehemently rejected Wiesenfeld's allegations, asserting that its investigations are not based on political affiliation. In a public statement, the office declared, "The office of the attorney general is committed to upholding New York’s laws and protecting the rights and freedoms of all New Yorkers, regardless of political beliefs. We strongly reject any assertion to the contrary." The office has largely characterized the matter surrounding Wiesenfeld as a "personnel matter," declining further public comment on the specifics of the allegations. Wiesenfeld's attorney, Levi Stoep, has stated his client has "no public comment at the current time."
The Trump White House quickly seized on Wiesenfeld's allegations, renewing its long-standing criticism of Attorney General James and her legal actions against President Trump. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis stated, "This is more proof of the weaponization of the justice system by Letitia James to target President Trump and her political opponents. The far-left Democrats’ lawfare against President Trump, his family must stop."
Attorney General James and President Trump have been prominent political adversaries for several years. During her successful 2018 campaign for New York Attorney General, James publicly pledged to investigate President Trump over potential violations of state law. After assuming office, she initiated a civil fraud lawsuit against President Trump, his two eldest sons, and the Trump Organization. A New York judge ruled against President Trump in 2024, imposing a substantial financial penalty exceeding $350 million. An appeals court later upheld the fraud finding but eliminated the original monetary penalty, reducing the amount significantly.
The whistleblower controversy has also drawn renewed attention to Shamiso Maswoswe, the bureau chief whom Wiesenfeld accused of directing the alleged targeting. Maswoswe previously worked for the Justice Department but was terminated during President Trump’s first administration. She subsequently filed a lawsuit against the department, alleging discrimination based on race, gender, and parenting responsibilities. That case was settled for $795,000 in 2023 during the Biden administration, approximately a year after Maswoswe joined Attorney General James’ office.
As of now, Wiesenfeld's allegations remain unproven, and neither Attorney General James nor Maswoswe has been charged with any criminal wrongdoing in connection with these claims. It also remains unclear whether Wiesenfeld's lengthy meeting with federal attorneys signifies the initiation of a formal investigation or is part of a preliminary review process. Nevertheless, the direct engagement of a whistleblower with the FBI and DOJ represents a significant development, underscoring the gravity with which these allegations are being viewed at the federal level, even as the New York Attorney General's office maintains its commitment to impartiality.
