Letitia James Melts Down Over Fraud Allegations—Says It's All Trump’s Fault
New York Attorney General Letitia James is showing signs of cracking as federal investigators examine allegations of mortgage fraud, with a grand jury convened in Virginia to determine whether she falsified legal documents to secure favorable loan terms.
This is the same type of accusation James levied against former President Donald Trump last year.
The probe centers on a 2023 power-of-attorney document in which James declared a Norfolk, Virginia property as her “principal residence.”
However, despite that claim, James was serving as New York’s top law enforcement official and residing in Brooklyn at the time.
She is also accused of misrepresenting the unit count of her Brooklyn brownstone to obtain better mortgage rates.
James reportedly listed the property as having four units, despite city records showing five.
In addition, a decades-old mortgage application reportedly listed James and her father as husband and wife—raising further questions about her credibility.
READ: New York Fights to Keep Letting Non-Citizens Vote
James addressed the allegations on Wednesday, asserting that she is the target of political revenge by Donald Trump and dismissing the situation as a paperwork mistake.
She stated:
“As you know, we filed a lawsuit against Donald, the former, Donald Trump, and his family.
We secured a $454 million judgment against him, which is on appeal.
The case is on appeal.
I have no idea when that case will be decided.
This investigation into me is nothing more than retribution.
It’s baseless. It has to do with the fact that on a power of attorney, I mistakenly indicated that I was a state of Virginia, but prior to that, I had indicted to the mortgage broker that, in fact, in bold cap letters that I was not a resident of Virginia and I never will be, and in the mortgage application, I indicated that I would not live in Virginia and that I was not a resident.
They just took the power of attorney, and they are using that as the basis for enforcement for their investigation, when in reality, the power of attorney was never used to determine my eligibility for a mortgage for my niece for a home in the state of Virginia.
My niece, who has children, and because I am a good aunt, I wanted her to have a home.”
Watch:
In April, bar complaints were filed against James, accusing her of mortgage fraud and violations of professional conduct rules.
The complaint, submitted by America First Legal (AFL) to the Committee on Professional Standards, calls for a full investigation. It stems from a criminal referral by the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
According to the complaint, James allegedly misrepresented property records and falsified bank documents to secure government-backed loans and more favorable mortgage terms.
If true, these actions could constitute violations of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibit illegal conduct and acts involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Dan Epstein, Vice President of America First Legal, stated:
“If what Director Pulte uncovered is true, then we have a sitting state Attorney General who made false certifications to the United States in return for federal benefits.
For a state prosecutor who has maligned the President of the United States for political gain, public accountability will serve as a cure to Letitia James’ endless lawfare and abuse of power.”
READ: Justice Boomerangs: Letitia James Faces the Same Charges She Brought Against Trump