The Trump Administration is coming after New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was hit with a federal criminal referral for instances of alleged mortgage fraud on Tuesday, according to the New York Post.
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleging that James had “falsified records” to get home loans for a property in Virginia that she claimed was her “principal residence” in 2023 — while still serving as a New York state prosecutor, the newspaper reported.
“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, according to the Post. “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.”
In February 2001, James also purchased a five-family dwelling in Brooklyn — but has “consistently misrepresented the same property as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications,” the letter noted.
Pulte attached several documents also showing that James purchased another property with her father as a co-signer — but falsely listed the pair as “husband and wife” in 1983 and 2000, the paper reported.
A spokesman for James said the Attorney General was focused on protecting New Yorkers, especially as the Trump administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution.
"She will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are,” a spokesman said in a statement.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said James was being targeted by the president. James won a civil fraud case against the Trump Organization in February 2024, which ordered the defendants to cough up $364 million in restitution.
“This is just the latest in Trump’s war on New York," Speaker Adams said. "He’s tried to defund our public schools and colleges, intimidate our law firms, deport longtime residents with green cards and decimate our economy with reckless tariffs. Now he’s coming after our Attorney General. New York must protect its leaders and people from Donald Trump, no matter what. I will always have Attorney General James’ back in the fight to protect New Yorkers.”
