New York’s Tightening Attorney General Race Could Carry Big Consequences for Trump

New York’s race for attorney general this year could have major consequences for President Trump as a Republican lawyer, Michael Henry, may be poised to oust Attorney General Letitia James.What little polling has been done on the race paints an unclear picture, though it does seem like it may be more competitive than usual — just like the New York gubernatorial competition.In comments to the Sun, Mr. Henry’s campaign contrasted his approach to Ms. James on the question of whether, if elected, he would continue with the attorney general’s investigations of Mr. Trump. A representative noted that, unlike Ms. James when she was a candidate for the office, Mr. Henry would not “make any prejudicial statements about a case he will inherit.”The most recent poll from Trafalgar Group, a Republican pollster, conducted between the end of September and the beginning of October shows Ms. James trailing Mr. Henry 44.4 percent to 45.4 percent with 10.2 percent of voters undecided.A nonpartisan pollster, Siena College, released a poll on September 28 that presented a different picture of the race, with Ms. James leading Mr. Henry by 16 points, 53 percent to 37 percent.While only one poll has shown a competitive race and Trafalgar has overestimated Republican support in the past, Ms. James does appear to be reacting to the polls.In an interview with the Buffalo television station WGRZ last week, Ms. James said, “We need to address a wide range of issues, including but not limited to looking at bail reform.”The statement differs from what she has said previously on the state’s bail policies. In May, she had said it was too early to tell conclusively whether the state’s new bail laws had led to an increase in crime.“We must follow the data and really look at it from an analytical perspective,” she said. “That means ensuring we are resisting the urge to overreact to spikes in crime that have occurred during this pandemic, without dismissing them outright.”Mr. Henry, much like the Republican nominee for governor, Representative Lee Zeldin, has made the topic of bail reform and crime central to his campaign.The New York attorney general race could have consequences for Mr. Trump. Ms. James and her office formally brought civil charges of fraud against Mr. Trump and members of his family last month.The case, which the former president has maintained is politically motivated, alleges that Mr. Trump and his organization misrepresented the values of properties to get more favorable business dealings.“Claiming you have money that you do not have does not amount to the art of the deal,” Ms. James said at a news conference concerning the case. “It’s the art of the steal.”Mr. Trump, at a deposition in the investigation in August, pleaded the Fifth, maintaining that the investigation is a “witch hunt” and that he had “no choice.”In a press gaggle after the gubernatorial debate this week, Mr. Zeldin, the Republican nominee for governor, said that he would not pardon the former president if he is convicted of a crime in New York.While Mr. Zeldin was technically asked about criminal charges, and the charges Mr. Trump faces are civil, the answer helped put to bed some speculation that he may grant Mr. Trump clemency if the former president is convicted.As it stands now, the current attorney general is seeking to permanently ban Mr. Trump and his children from serving as an executive in any company in New York, among other measures.When the Sun asked Mr. Henry’s campaign whether he would drop civil charges against Mr. Trump, a spokeswoman for his campaign, Candice Giove, said that it was too early to make a determination.“Unlike his opponent who declared someone’s guilt or said she’d find crimes against someone, Michael Henry will not make any prejudicial statements about a case he will inherit,” she told the Sun.Mr. Henry has previously declined to specify how he would handle the investigation if elected, maintaining that his loyalties are to the people of New York and not the former president.

New York’s Tightening Attorney General Race Could Carry Big Consequences for Trump

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