History of Letitia James in Timeline
Letitia Ann James is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the Attorney General of New York since 2019. A Democrat, she won the 2018 election to succeed Barbara Underwood. She is the first African American and the first woman to be elected to this position.
1919: Birth of Nellie James, Letitia James's Mother
Nellie James, Letitia James's mother, was born in 1919 in Martinsville, Virginia.
October 18, 1958: Birth of Letitia Ann James
Letitia Ann James was born on October 18, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York.
1977: Letitia James Becomes First Third-Party Member Elected to City Council Since 1977
Letitia James's election marked the first time a third-party member won a seat on the city council since 1977.
1981: Letitia James Earns Bachelor of Arts from Lehman College
Letitia James graduated from the City University of New York's Lehman College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in liberal arts with a focus on social work.
1987: Letitia James Graduates from Howard University School of Law
Letitia James received her Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1987.
1989: Letitia James Admitted to Practice Law in New York State
Letitia James was admitted to the New York State bar in 1989, enabling her to practice law.
1999: Letitia James Appointed as Assistant Attorney General in Brooklyn
In 1999, Letitia James was appointed as the first Assistant Attorney General to lead the Brooklyn regional office, focusing on consumer protection issues like predatory lending.
November 2001: Letitia James's First Run for 35th Council District
Letitia James first ran for the 35th Council district in November 2001, narrowly losing to Democrat James E. Davis.
July 2003: Assassination of Councilman James E. Davis
In July 2003, Councilman James E. Davis, whom Letitia James had run against previously, was assassinated by Othniel Askew.
November 4, 2003: Letitia James Elected to the New York City Council
Letitia James won the election for the 35th Council District seat on November 4, 2003, becoming the first citywide office-holder to run solely on the Working Families Party line.
2004: Letitia James Elected to the New York City Council
Letitia James began her term on the New York City Council, representing the 35th district, in 2004.
November 8, 2005: Letitia James Re-elected to the New York City Council
Letitia James secured a second term on the New York City Council, winning the election on November 8, 2005, with a significant majority.
October 10, 2006: Fire at the Broken Angel House
On October 10, 2006, a fire damaged the Broken Angel House in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, leading to building code violations and Letitia James representing the owner pro bono.
2008: Letitia James Opposes Mayor Bloomberg's Third Term Bid
Letitia James joined those opposing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempt to seek a third term in 2008 without a public vote.
September 2009: Letitia James Wins Democratic Primary for City Council
Letitia James emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for the City Council in September 2009, defeating opponents Delia Hunley-Adossa and Medhanie Estiphanos.
2011: Letitia James Questions CityTime Payroll System
Letitia James raised concerns about cost overruns and irregularities in the CityTime payroll system, leading to investigations and indictments in 2011.
May 2013: Letitia James Joins Lawsuit Against City Point Project
Letitia James joined a lawsuit in May 2013 against the Bloomberg administration and Acadia Realty Trust, challenging the City Point real estate project's environmental impact.
October 1, 2013: Letitia James Wins Runoff Election for New York City Public Advocate
Letitia James secured the Democratic nomination for New York City Public Advocate after winning the runoff election against Daniel Squadron on October 1, 2013.
2013: Letitia James Becomes New York City Public Advocate
In 2013, Letitia James assumed the role of New York City Public Advocate, becoming the first African-American woman to hold citywide office in New York City.
2013: Letitia James Pursues Master of Public Administration at Columbia University
While serving in public office, Letitia James enrolled at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in 2013 to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree.
2014: Beginning of LaPierre's Fiduciary Duty Violations
A jury found that Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the NRA, violated his fiduciary duties from 2014 to 2022.
June 2016: Letitia James Pressures Financial Institutions on Gun Manufacturer Ties
In June 2016, Letitia James led an effort to pressure financial institutions, including BB&T, to stop providing services to gun manufacturers.
2017: Letitia James Wins Democratic Primary for Public Advocate
Letitia James won the Democratic primary for New York City Public Advocate in 2017 with a decisive majority.
May 2018: Letitia James Announces Candidacy for Attorney General
In May 2018, Letitia James announced her candidacy for Attorney General of New York.
September 13, 2018: Letitia James Wins Democratic Primary for Attorney General
Letitia James won the Democratic primary for Attorney General of New York on September 13, 2018, defeating Zephyr Teachout and two other candidates.
November 6, 2018: Letitia James Elected Attorney General of New York
Letitia James was elected as the Attorney General of New York on November 6, 2018, making history as the first woman and African American to hold the office.
2018: Letitia James Elected as Attorney General of New York
Letitia James won the 2018 election for Attorney General of New York, succeeding Barbara Underwood.
2018: Statements During 2018 Campaign
During her 2018 campaign, Letitia James made statements that were later cited by the NRA in a countersuit against her.
2018: Letitia James Concludes Tenure as New York City Public Advocate
Letitia James concluded her service as the New York City Public Advocate in 2018.
January 1, 2019: Sworn in as Attorney General
On January 1, 2019, Letitia James was sworn in as the Attorney General of New York, succeeding Barbara Underwood.
September 2019: Lawsuit Against All Faiths Cemetery Officials
In September 2019, Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the officials of All Faiths Cemetery in Queens, alleging financial misconduct.
2019: Letitia James Begins Term as Attorney General of New York
In 2019, Letitia James began her term as the Attorney General of New York, making history as the first African American and first woman to hold the position.
March 2020: Investigation into Neglect in Nursing Homes
In March 2020, the New York Attorney General's office, under Letitia James, began investigating allegations of neglect in nursing homes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 2020: Greater New York Hospital Association Provides Draft to Governor's Office
In August 2020, the Greater New York Hospital Association stated that it had provided a draft of ideas for the state budget to Governor Cuomo's office, including provisions related to long-term care organizations.
August 2020: Civil Lawsuit Against the NRA
Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit against the National Rifle Association (NRA) in August 2020, alleging corruption and financial misconduct, and seeking its dissolution.
January 28, 2021: Report on Nursing Home Deaths During COVID-19 Pandemic
On January 28, 2021, Letitia James' office released a report concluding that the New York State Department of Health undercounted nursing home deaths from COVID-19 by up to 50 percent.
March 18, 2021: FBI Investigation into Cuomo's Coronavirus Task Force
On March 18, 2021, it was revealed that the FBI was investigating the role of Governor Cuomo's coronavirus task force in the state's nursing home COVID-19 response, including a budget provision granting immunity to long-term care facilities.
August 3, 2021: Report on Cuomo's Sexual Harassment Allegations
On August 3, 2021, Letitia James' office released a report concluding that Governor Andrew Cuomo had engaged in multiple acts of sexual harassment.
October 29, 2021: Announcement of Gubernatorial Run
On October 29, 2021, Letitia James announced her intention to run for Governor of New York in the 2022 Democratic primary.
December 2021: Letitia James Withdraws from New York Gubernatorial Race
Letitia James decided to suspend her campaign for the New York gubernatorial election in December 2021, choosing to run for reelection as Attorney General.
2021: Letitia James Initially Plans to Run for Mayor
Before running for Attorney General, Letitia James had considered running for Mayor of New York City in 2021.
May 2022: Public Statement About Abortion
At a rally in May 2022, Letitia James publicly stated that she had an abortion early in her tenure as a member of the New York City Council.
November 8, 2022: Reelection as Attorney General
Letitia James was reelected as Attorney General of New York on November 8, 2022, defeating Republican Michael Henry.
2022: Civil Lawsuit Against the Trump Organization
In 2022, Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization and worked with the Manhattan District Attorney's office on a criminal investigation.
2022: Letitia James Runs for Reelection as Attorney General
Letitia James ran for reelection as Attorney General of New York in 2022 instead of pursuing the governorship.
2022: Withdrawal from Gubernatorial Race
Letitia James withdrew from the 2022 New York gubernatorial race to seek reelection as Attorney General.
2022: End of LaPierre's Fiduciary Duty Violations
Wayne LaPierre's violation of his fiduciary duties as CEO of the NRA ended in 2022, according to a jury's findings.
May 4, 2023: Investigation into NFL Employment Practices
On May 4, 2023, Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a joint investigation into the NFL's employment practices, following reports of harassment and discrimination.
February 2024: NRA Found Guilty of Mismanaging Funds
In February 2024, a lawsuit by the New York Attorney General's Office, under Letitia James, found the NRA mismanaged funds, leading to CEO Wayne LaPierre being ordered to pay $4.3 million in damages.
February 16, 2024: Successful Fraud Case Against Donald Trump
On February 16, 2024, a fraud case brought by Letitia James against Donald Trump and his organization resulted in a judge barring Trump from operating businesses in New York for three years and fining him over $355 million.