October 10, 2025
UUP President Fred Kowal said he stands with New York state Attorney General Letitia James, who was indicted Oct. 9 on a federal bank fraud charge—less than a month after the sitting U.S. president publicly pressured U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute his political enemies.
“Tish James has been a friend to UUP for years and she’s a former UUP member,” said UUP President Fred Kowal. “She is honest, forthright and dedicated to applying the rule of law fairly to everyone. It is obvious to even the most casual observer that the legal action taken against Tish by the U.S. Department of Justice is politically motivated retribution directed by the president against someone who has successfully challenged his actions in court time and time again.”
“This is a blatant personal attack against Tish James,” Kowal said. “This is what happens when an out of control president uses the Justice Department as his personal hit squad.”
James, a former adjunct lecturer at Empire State College in New York City, was a UUP member before she was elected as state attorney general. She has spoken at UUP delegate assemblies and attended rallies at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn in 2014 to support UUP’s campaign to save the public teaching hospital.
James was indicted by a Virginia federal grand jury on one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution. She pled not guilty and strongly denied the charges.
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system. He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State Attorney General,” James said in an Oct. 9 statement. “These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost. The president’s actions are a grave violation of our Constitutional order and have drawn sharp criticism from members of both parties."
Other labor leaders also expressed their support for James.
New York AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento issued an Oct. 9 press statement defending James.
“Tish James has served New Yorkers with honor and integrity,” Cilento said. “Her reputation is above reproach. This (indictment) comes as no surprise; Tish James is being targeted simply for upholding the laws of the State of New York. That is her job. No one should ever be punished for doing their job.”
AFT President Randi Weingarten and NYSUT President Melinda Person posted statements of support for James on their Bluesky social media feeds.
“I stand with Tish James. The indictment sought by Donald Trump is based on retribution not the rule of law,” Weingarten said.
“I stand with Tish James,” Person said. “his indictment is political retaliation. She’s led with integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice—and that’s exactly why she’s being targeted.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul, on X, said that the indictment was “nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.”
Read more about James’ indictment HERE.