Republican attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy has withdrawn a 52-count "public indictment" against Democratic incumbent Letitia James, accusing her of dereliction of duty ahead of their debate scheduled for Thursday. Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, claimed that James has focused on national issues rather than addressing the needs of New Yorkers during her two terms in office. "The People do not allege that the defendant has been idle. They allege that she has been busy with the wrong things," Komatireddy stated, listing the "Exasperated People of the State of New York" as plaintiffs.
The indictment included accusations that James failed to intervene as New Yorkers faced severe winter conditions, allowed violent incidents involving mentally ill individuals, and did not adequately address crime and homelessness during her tenure. Specific examples cited in the indictment included a family of five who died in a motel fire and a mother shot in front of her children by a man released from custody the day before.
Komatireddy criticized James for not aggressively prosecuting Medicaid fraud and other offenses, alleging that settlement money related to the opioid crisis was misallocated. She also pointed out that James had not pushed to close government-sponsored injection sites that are illegal under federal law and criticized her for not advocating for changes to state laws regarding rape prosecution.
In response, James' campaign dismissed the accusations as a campaign stunt, stating, "Attorney General Letitia James files real lawsuits in real courts every day to protect New Yorkers’ rights and their wallets." A spokesperson highlighted a recent arrest and indictment of a pharmacy owner for Medicaid fraud amounting to $31 million.
According to a Siena University poll conducted last month, James leads Komatireddy by 13 points, with 52% support compared to Komatireddy's 39%. James, who is seeking a third term, is set to debate Komatireddy on Thursday night, with the event hosted by Spectrum. Komatireddy has a background as a federal prosecutor, while James has gained national attention for her legal actions against former President Trump and her investigation into ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo's misconduct.