Letitia James freezes when asked to name an AG she admires as rival quips 'she only admires herself'

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026.

New York Attorney General Letitia James went silent for more than ten seconds during Thursday's debate when asked to name a former state attorney general she admired, drawing a devastating retort from Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy, 42. Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor and DEA chief of staff, branded James a 'political hack' who had spent eight years using taxpayer money for her own political purposes. Conservative strategist Steve Guest called Komatireddy's quip 'a debate zinger for the ages.' The clash comes less than a month before New York voters head to the polls on 3 November.

Komatireddy told viewers: 'New Yorkers, you do not have an attorney general right now.'

James fired back by labelling her opponent a 'Trump puppet' and blaming her criminal-law background for making her unfit for an AG focused on civil matters.

James is also facing backlash after publicly backing a Cornell rape accuser before being appointed special prosecutor in the same case.