Shamiso Maswoswe, a bureau chief in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, previously sued the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for discrimination during the Trump administration and reached a substantial settlement, court documents reveal. Maswoswe, who is currently facing allegations of using her position to target former President Donald Trump and his political allies, filed the discrimination complaint in 2021.
According to the lawsuit, Maswoswe, an African American woman and new mother at the time, contended that the DOJ terminated her employment in December 2017 due to discrimination based on race, sex, and her childcare responsibilities. The complaint noted that her dismissal came immediately after a successful sentencing hearing that followed a highly publicized jury trial victory. Maswoswe alleged that she was summoned to a human resources meeting on the same day her team was celebrating the trial outcome.
The suit detailed challenges Maswoswe faced caring for her premature infant, who required breast milk feeding in accordance with medical advice. She claimed that DOJ supervisors were unsupportive of her childcare needs, despite her maintaining strong performance in her role. The case eventually settled in 2023 during the Biden administration, with Maswoswe receiving $795,000, according to federal court records.
Maswoswe joined the New York Attorney General’s office in February 2022, after her time at the DOJ. She has recently come under scrutiny following accusations from former Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Daniel Wiesenfeld, a prosecutor in her unit. Wiesenfeld, in an email sent to roughly 2,000 colleagues and later deleted, alleged that Maswoswe instructed him to focus investigations on individuals and groups linked to Donald Trump. He drew a parallel between what he described as political motivations within both the Department of Justice under Trump and James’ office.
Following the email, Wiesenfeld was placed on paid administrative leave and has not made public comments on the matter. The New York Attorney General’s Office characterized the dispute as a personnel issue and emphasized its commitment to serving all New Yorkers impartially, regardless of political affiliation, while rejecting claims of politically motivated prosecutions.
The tensions between James and Trump have been longstanding. During her 2018 campaign, James pledged to pursue legal action against the former president for alleged crimes committed in New York. In 2024, her office secured a $360 million civil judgment against Trump, his sons, and his former company over inflated property valuations and misrepresentations of wealth. While an appellate court upheld the ruling, it did not include the substantial monetary award.
The controversy around Maswoswe highlights ongoing concerns about the intersection of politics and legal enforcement in high-profile investigations involving Trump and his associates.