By New York Attorney General Letitia James, known for her high-profile legal actions against former President Donald Trump, is now the subject of a federal criminal referral for alleged mortgage fraud. The referral, submitted by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, accuses James of falsifying records to secure favorable home loans for properties in Virginia and New York.
The allegations center on a 2023 mortgage application for a property in Norfolk, Virginia, which James reportedly claimed as her primary residence, despite being required to maintain her primary residence in New York as the state’s attorney general. Pulte’s letter suggests that James misrepresented her residency status to obtain a lower interest rate and better loan terms, according to the The New York Post.
That occurred in late August 2023, weeks before James began her civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization for overinflating the values of many of its properties, which ended in a $454 million judgment.
“Ms. James was the sitting Attorney General of New York and is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York — even though her mortgage applications list her intent to have the Norfolk, VA, property as her primary home,” the letter stated.
“It appears Ms. James’ property and mortgage-related misrepresentations may have continued to her recent 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase in order to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable loan terms.”
Further accusations involve a Brooklyn property James purchased in 2001, described as a five-family dwelling but allegedly misrepresented as having only four units in mortgage and building permit documents. This misrepresentation could have allowed James to secure reduced mortgage rates under the federal Home Affordable Modification Program, wrote The New York Post.
Additionally, Pulte’s referral includes documents from 1983 and 2000, claiming James falsely listed herself and her father, a co-signer on another property, as “husband and wife” in mortgage applications.The referral also raises the possibility of serious charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to financial institutions.
Legal expert Jonathan Turley, speaking on Fox News, called the documents “quite damning,” noting the irony of James facing allegations similar to those she pursued against Trump. “Either it’s your principal residence or it’s not. Either you’re married to your father or he’s your father,” Turley remarked, referencing James’ mantra, “No one is above the law,” which she frequently invoked during her Trump investigations.
Turley continued, saying the “documents themselves are quite damning.”
Former NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro told Fox News Digital he discovered the allegations against James on his Substack over two months ago.
“The documents presented by Sam Antar, and the research he has done, appear entirely authentic,” Mauro said. “In which case, AG James appears to have engaged in the very sort of fraud which she alleged in her ludicrous case against Donald Trump. Let’s see now, if indeed, as AG James has stated herself, nobody is above the law.”
The New York AG launched her campaign by blatantly saying she would find a way, one way or another, to prosecute Donald Trump. Throughout her trial against Donald Trump, James was active on social media, tweeting about how the president was racking up fines and talking about seizing Trump Tower.
She has not posted in several days at the time of this writing.
A spokesperson for James’ office dismissed the referral as an attempt by the Trump administration to “weaponize the federal government against the rule of law.” The statement emphasized James’ commitment to protecting New Yorkers and her refusal to be intimidated.
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