When even longtime Democratic operatives start calling out Letitia James, you know her crusade against Donald Trump has gone completely off the rails. Julian Epstein, a veteran Democrat, went on Fox News Friday and shredded James’ decision to appeal the ruling that tossed Trump’s outrageous $454 million civil fraud penalty. His verdict? Just four words: “Doubling down on dumb.”

James officially filed notice Thursday that she will appeal, trying desperately to revive both the half-billion-dollar fine and the fraud finding against Trump. But Epstein made it clear—this case was politically motivated from day one and is now hanging by a thread.

Even liberal, Democrat-appointed judges in New York’s appeals court recognized the penalty was absurd, calling it an Eighth Amendment violation against excessive fines. Epstein didn’t mince words: “This was an abusive prosecution. It was a political prosecution. The whole thing, in my view, should be thrown out. And she will not prevail.”

Let’s not forget how this circus began. James campaigned in 2018 on a promise to “get Trump,” calling him an “illegitimate president.” She followed through by suing him in 2022, claiming he inflated property values to get loans—even though every bank involved, including Deutsche Bank, admitted they weren’t harmed. In fact, the loans were repaid in full and on time. Victimless “fraud,” anyone?

Judge Arthur Engoron, a partisan on the bench, slapped Trump with the unprecedented fine and barred him from running any New York company for three years. But in August, the appeals court dismantled Engoron’s ruling, recognizing what it really was: lawfare dressed up as justice.

Now James wants another shot. But as Epstein bluntly said, this isn’t about justice—it’s about politics. And if Democrats themselves are calling her moves “dumb,” it might be time for Letitia James to finally admit defeat.