Federal prosecutors have opened a new criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, an early-stage inquiry examining financial transactions and alleged loans between James and her longtime hairdresser, Iyesata Marsh.
Separately, John Sarcone, the acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, had been overseeing two additional probes involving James. Those matters concern her office’s handling of the civil fraud case against President Trump and a lawsuit brought by her office against the National Rifle Association and its executives.
Sarcone’s involvement in all three investigations is now uncertain after a federal judge ruled Thursday that he was not lawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney and disqualified him from the role. The judge found Sarcone could not participate in the probes tied to the civil fraud case or the NRA litigation.
James had challenged Sarcone’s authority after she was subpoenaed in August. As part of the ruling, the judge also quashed those subpoenas.
