Letitia
James
Enforcing the law
BY CHARLOTTE ALTER
As the fi rst Black
woman to serve as
New York State’s
attorney general—one
of the most powerful
law- enforcement posi-
tions in the country—
Letitia James has
used her position to
take down powerful
men and pursuenationwide causes.
Her investigation into
the state’s handling
of COVID-19 deaths
at nursing homes
damaged Governor
Andrew Cuomo’s repu-
tation, and her offi ce’s
investigation into the
sexual harassment
claims against thegovernor led to his
resignation in August- Her investiga-
tion into former Presi-
dent Donald Trump’s
business dealings
has been one of the
most aggressive
so far, resulting in a
New York State judge
briefl y holding the
former President in
contempt of court
as the state seeks
documents relating
to possible fraud at
his organization. And
she’s using her posi-
tion as New York’s
top law- enforcement
offi cer to wield power
on national issues,
from protecting
women from other
states who seek an
abortion in New York
to investigating the
role of social media
companies in spread-
ing online hate.
Alter is a TIME senior
correspondent