New campaign finance disclosures are renewing scrutiny over the political donors backing some of President Donald Trump’s most prominent legal and political adversaries.
Records show that billionaire financier George Soros and members of his family have contributed more than $71,000 to New York Attorney General Letitia James since 2019, including $31,000 tied to her current re-election effort.
According to state filings, Soros personally donated $18,000 in July 2024, while his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Soros, contributed $13,000 in May. Additional donations from Soros family members dating back to 2019 total roughly $40,000 across previous election cycles.
The direct donations, however, represent only part of the financial picture.
Attorney General James has also benefited from political organizations that receive substantial backing from Soros-funded networks, most notably the Working Families Party (WFP). Financial disclosures indicate that Soros’ Open Society-affiliated entities have provided $23.7 million to the Working Families Party’s national fundraising arm since 2016. Soros family members have also donated an additional $865,000 directly to the party’s New York affiliate since 2018.
James’ relationship with the Working Families Party is long-standing. In 2003, she became the first candidate endorsed by the party to win elected office in New York, securing a City Council seat in Brooklyn. While she declined the party’s ballot line during her successful 2018 campaign for attorney general—opting instead to run on the Democratic ticket—she later accepted the party’s endorsement during her 2022 re-election bid.
Critics argue that the funding and political alignment raise concerns about influence and priorities within New York’s top law enforcement office.
“George Soros has spent years financing progressive political movements across the country, often with significant consequences for public safety and governance,” said Michael Henry, a Republican attorney who is seeking to challenge James in the 2026 election. “New Yorkers have already seen similar outcomes under other prosecutors backed by the same donor network.”
Henry added that voters should closely examine the financial relationships behind powerful offices that shape law enforcement policy statewide.
Attorney General James has drawn national attention for a series of legal actions involving President Trump, including lawsuits related to his business operations. One high-profile civil case accused Trump of overstating asset values over several decades. In August, a state appellate court overturned penalties exceeding $500 million that had been imposed as part of that case, marking a major legal victory for the president.
James later faced legal scrutiny of her own. In October, she was indicted on mortgage-related charges tied to a property in Virginia. She pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed the following month without going to trial. Subsequent efforts to revive the charges were unsuccessful.
President Trump has repeatedly argued that Soros-backed political networks are driving legal actions against him through aligned prosecutors, including James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Campaign finance records show that Soros donated $1 million in 2021 to a political action committee that supported Bragg’s district attorney campaign through advertising and voter outreach. Soros family members have also contributed more than $43,000 directly to Bragg since that election cycle.
Requests for comment from representatives for Soros, the attorney general’s office, and related campaigns were not returned.
For many voters, particularly those concerned about transparency and political influence, the donor relationships highlighted in recent filings underscore broader questions about the role of billionaire funding in shaping the justice system—and whether those financial ties affect how power is exercised.