{"id":2680667,"date":"2026-10-10T12:37:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T16:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-letitia-james-goes-silent-for-10-seconds-when-asked-simple-debate-question-then-opponent-drives-home-the-dagger\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T12:44:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T16:44:33","slug":"watch-letitia-james-goes-silent-for-10-seconds-when-asked-simple-debate-question-then-opponent-drives-home-the-dagger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-letitia-james-goes-silent-for-10-seconds-when-asked-simple-debate-question-then-opponent-drives-home-the-dagger\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch: Letitia James Goes Silent for 10 Seconds When Asked Simple Debate Question &#8211; Then Opponent Drives Home the Dagger"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">40<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwatch-letitia-james-goes-silent-for-10-seconds-when-asked-simple-debate-question-then-opponent-drives-home-the-dagger%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2680667&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports on a debate between New York Attorney General Letitia James and her Republican challenger, Saritha Komatireddy. James faced multiple awkward moments, including a failed attempt to identify a past NY attorney general she admires, amid controversy over her past references and connections to previous officeholders like Eliot Spitzer, Andrew Cuomo, and Eric Schneiderman-all of whom faced scandals.<\/p>\n<p>Komatireddy responded with a clear and respectful answer, citing Dennis Vacco as her admired former attorney general. The debate also touched on issues of law enforcement conduct, with James accused of operating politically rather than lawfully, and of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/if-anyones-causing-a-judicial-crisis-its-rogue-judges\/\" title=\"If Anyone&#039;s Causing A &#039;Judicial Crisis,&#039; It&#039;s Rogue Judges\">pre-judging cases<\/a>, notably regarding allegations involving prediction markets and a university rape case. Critics argue James\u2019s methods resemble authoritarian tactics, citing her promises to pursue former President Trump and her involvement in ongoing legal investigations, which some see as politically motivated.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the discussion, James&#8217;s approach and ethics were criticized, with opponents emphasizing her political bias and questioning her suitability for the role. The debate underscored ongoing tensions about accountability,law enforcement integrity,and political motivations within New York&#8217;s legal landscape.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>New York Attorney General Letitia James suffered a decisive defeat Thursday night in a debate against Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy.<\/p>\n<p>There were multiple embarrassing moments for the incumbent, including when a moderator asked, \u201cName a past New York attorney general that you admire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There was about a 10-second awkward pause while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/letitia-james-hit-52-count-indictment-republican-opponent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James<\/a> contemplated the question, prompting Komatireddy to chime in, \u201cShe only admires herself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, no, no, we admire others,\u201d James replied.<\/p>\n<p>What \u201cwe\u201d is she talking about? The royal we?<\/p>\n<p>Finally, she answered, \u201cI admire all of the past attorneys general because it\u2019s a difficult job and you\u2019ve got to stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the best she could come up with?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s understandable why she might not want to name the last three elected officeholders to the position: Eliot Spitzer, Andrew Cuomo, and Eric Schneiderman.<\/p>\n<p>Spitzer was caught up in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/id\/wbna29058031\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alleged<\/a> prostitution scandal as governor, Cuomo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-gov-cuomo-announces-will-resign-wake-sexual-harassment-allegations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">resigned<\/a> as governor following an investigation into sexual harassment allegations, and Schneiderman stepped down as attorney general after being accused of physical abuse against women.<\/p>\n<p>So she admires them, too?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Name one former New York Attorney General you admire.<\/p>\n<p>Letitia James: \ud83e\udd97\ud83e\udd97\ud83e\udd97 https:\/\/t.co\/ab8SqvPgFZ<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Saritha Komatireddy (@sarithaforny) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/sarithaforny\/status\/2108361985813565701?\">October 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>By contrast, Komatireddy had a ready answer. \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lippes.com\/team\/dennis-c-vacco-82\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dennis Vacco<\/a>,\u201d she said, referring to the last Republican to serve as a New York attorney general.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt a time when New York State needed it, we had another former federal prosecutor become attorney general and bring law and order,\u201d the candidate argued.<\/p>\n<p>But that was not the only troublesome moment for James.<\/p>\n<p>At another point during the debate, when the topic was alleged misconduct involving prediction markets, \u201cKomatireddy said she would examine the facts and the law to determine whether an investigation or prosecution was warranted,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/townhall.com\/news\/dmitri-bolt\/2026\/10\/09\/letitia-james-saritha-komatireddy-debate-n2684398\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Townhall<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But James pronounced, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to look at the facts and the law. All you have to do is study what they do. It\u2019s illegal in the state of New York.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Komatireddy fired back, \u201cThere you go. You don\u2019t have to look at the facts and the law, gentlemen. Your attorney general.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Leticia James is a complete disaster as Attorney General.<\/p>\n<p>In one of the biggest Freudian slips, she actually told the truth about how she has operated as Attorney General \u2014 she doesn\u2019t look at the facts or the law and pre-judges cases based entirely on politics.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lawler4ny\/status\/2108402227194781919?\">October 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Her prosecutorial method sounds like something right out of Soviet police chief Lavrentiy Beria\u2019s playbook. He <a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordeagle.com\/2018\/05\/09\/show-me-the-man-and-ill-show-you-the-crime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reputedly<\/a> said to Joseph Stalin, \u201cShow me the man, and I\u2019ll show you the crime.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In other words, he could find a crime for any political opponent of the regime.<\/p>\n<p>That is, in fact, what James promised when she ran for attorney general in 2018, saying she was going to take down Donald Trump, whom she <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/letitia-james-trump-feud-building-1st-administration\/story?id=126381146\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">described<\/a> as \u201cthis illegitimate president,\u201d without offering any laws he had broken. She was going to find the crime.<\/p>\n<p>As attorney general, James began an investigation into Trump during his first term, which culminated in civil <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.ny.gov\/press-release\/2022\/attorney-general-james-sues-donald-trump-years-financial-fraud\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fraud charges<\/a> being brought in 2022 after he left office and was preparing to run for a second term.<\/p>\n<p>In a non-jury trial, New York Judge <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-demands-recusal-judge-engoron-news-outside-courtroom-issuing-454-million-penalty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arthur Engoron<\/a> ruled that Trump and other defendants misrepresented the worth of the Trump Organization properties and imposed $450 million in fines. An appeals court later<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/new-york-appeals-court-throws-out-500m-fraud-penalty-against-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> completely voided<\/a> the financial judgment in a win for Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Just last week, James did not directly respond when a reporter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-letitia-james-no-answer-reporter-points-big-problem-cornell-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asked<\/a> about the appropriateness of her being assigned as special prosecutor in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/bombshell-new-text-cornell-rape-accuser-contains-4-case-killing-words-body-choice-media-omits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cornell University<\/a> case involving rape allegations from 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The reporter pointed to a social media post in which James wrote just days before, \u201cWhat this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I\u2019m holding her in my heart and in my prayers. To her, and to all survivors: you\u2019re not alone. We stand with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I\u2019m holding her in my heart and in my prayers.<\/p>\n<p>To her, and to all survivors: you\u2019re not alone. We stand with you.<br \/> https:\/\/t.co\/az4ViQwgy1<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NewYorkStateAG\/status\/2104696012619305306?\">September 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy did you affirm her allegations as fact without doing your own fact-finding investigation?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<p>James responded, \u201cI will not comment on a post.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She should, because it happens to reveal her frame of mind going into the investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Komatireddy summarized James\u2019 tenure correctly when she <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/sarithaforny\/status\/2108497626291409089\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> during Thursday\u2019s debate, \u201cNew Yorkers, you do not have an attorney general right now. For the last eight years, you\u2019ve had a political hack sitting in the chair, using our taxpayer money for her political purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s time for her to go.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NY AG Letitia James faced a crushing defeat in Thursday&#8217;s debate against Saritha Komatireddy, with several awkward moments including a pause when asked to name an admired former attorney general<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2680668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-10T010926.600.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3896,32506,5894],"class_list":["post-2680667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-debate","tag-letitia-james","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-10T010926.600.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2680667"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2680671,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680667\/revisions\/2680671"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2680668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2680667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2680667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2680667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}