Republican attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy has taken aim at New York Attorney General Letitia James, accusing her of politicizing the prosecution and arguing that voters are tired of what she describes as a culture of “lawlessness.”Indian-American Komatireddy is a former federal prosecutor and political newcomer who said his campaign is rooted in restoring fairness and accountability in the justice system.“That was wrong. Real prosecutors, they don’t target people. They target crimes,” Sarita said, referring to James’ previous legal actions against Donald Trump.The Manhattan-based attorney was recently selected as the Republican candidate and believes there is a path to victory despite the state’s strong Democratic lean. He argued that frustration was building among the public across party lines. “These things affect innocent people. They affect everyday New Yorkers. And I think New Yorkers across the political spectrum are tired of the lawlessness,” said Komatireddy, 41.The daughter of Indian immigrants who settled in Coney Island in the 1980s, Komatireddy said her career in law enforcement was shaped by the September 11 attacks. She went on to attend Harvard Law School, clerked for Brett Kavanaugh during his time on the U.S. Court of Appeals, and later prosecuted terrorism and narcotics cases in the Eastern District of New York. His work included cases involving al Qaeda and ISIS, as well as a role in the Drug Enforcement Administration.She is presenting herself as a candidate focused on public safety and institutional accountability. He has pledged to crack down on drug-related crime, anti-Semitism and what he called widespread disregard for laws in public places, including homeless shelters.Komatireddy also discussed the misuse of taxpayer funds, particularly within Medicaid and non-profit services. “We have to make sure that the people taking taxpayer money to provide services are actually providing those services,” he said.He also criticized the lack of oversight under one-party rule. He said, “Every person in official position is everyone’s friend and no one can really rein him in.” She also said that she would not “target people for her politics.”Despite facing tall odds in a state where Democrats dominate voter registration, Komatireddy said his message of security and accountability could resonate. She said, “I will refuse to make decisions based on politics. I am not going to give a partisan reaction to anything without thinking.”
