CNN legal analyst Elie Honig recently published an op-ed in New York Magazine suggesting that James’ legal challenges may be, in part, the result of earlier decisions she made while campaigning for office. According to Honig, James had been vocal in her criticism of Trump even before formally investigating him. He notes that her aggressive approach during the campaign—pledging to pursue legal action against the then-president—set a controversial precedent.

Eventually, James did sue Trump in a civil fraud case, which resulted in a New York judge ordering the Trump Organization to pay over $450 million in damages. The case focused on alleged misrepresentations of property values to secure favorable financial terms from banks. While James prevailed at trial, critics have questioned the strength of the evidence and the real-world impact of the case