New York: Reagan New York Attorney General candidate Saritha Komatireddy has become a main challenger to the incumbent Attorney General, Letitia James, after President Donald Trump endorsed her. The endorsement has led to discussions about Komatireddy, including her family, legal background and political ambitions.
Trump endorsed Komatireddy on August 15, criticizing James and branding her a “total disaster” before supporting Komatireddy in the upcoming November election.
Komatireddy thanked Trump for his support and said she was ready to take on James.
The race has also attracted attention due to the long-running political battle between James and Trump. James' office had previously taken Trump and his company to court in a civil fraud action; later, the Justice Department during the Trump administration filed a mortgage fraud suit that was dismissed against James.
Who is Saritha Komatireddy?
A 41-year-old lawyer, former federal prosecutor and Republican candidate for the New York attorney general's office, Komatireddy was born in Brooklyn and raised in Missouri.
She has over 10 years of experience in federal law enforcement and is currently a partner at the law firm Holtzman Vogel. She was formerly a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York.
During her tenure as a practicing lawyer, Komatireddy worked on cases involving terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, fraud, and foreign corruption. Escobar cites shares in cases that were affiliated with organizations such as Al Qaeda and ISIS, as well as Mexican drug cartels.
Komatireddy also served as chief of staff at the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Take her education – she graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She later began working as a law clerk for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She also taught as a lecturer at Columbia Law School.
Saritha Komatireddy's Indian family background
Komatireddy is the daughter of Indian immigrants from Telangana.
She spoke at open forums about her Indian American background. She was also described by the New York Republican Party as the Telugu representation for the first time in the statewide NY attorney general race that received the Republican nomination.
Her Indian heritage and legal experience are now part of her public persona as she goes up against Letitia James in this election.