Trump Administration Targets NY AG Letitia James Over Alleged Mortgage Fraud
The Trump administration has initiated a criminal referral against New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleging mortgage fraud related to a property purchase in Virginia.
In a twist of legal battles, the Trump administration has filed a criminal referral against New York Attorney General Letitia James, accusing her of mortgage fraud. This move comes after years of legal confrontations between James and former President Donald Trump, highlighting a contentious political and legal relationship. The referral stems from James’ purchase of a home in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2023, which she reportedly identified as her primary residence on mortgage documents, despite her legal obligation to reside in New York as a statewide elected official.
New York City real estate attorney Pierre Debbas described the case as retaliatory, a response to James’s previous legal actions against Trump. He criticized both cases as weak, pointing out the irony and suggesting that James’s case against Trump was politically motivated. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has sent the referral to the Department of Justice, arguing that James falsified mortgage records to secure more favorable loan terms.
This situation underscores the ongoing legal skirmishes between James and Trump, with James having pursued numerous legal challenges against Trump, including a significant civil fraud case that resulted in a $454 million judgment against him in 2024. The allegations against James, if proven, could have significant implications for her role and the ongoing political dynamics in New York and beyond.