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Trump Administration Suggests Mortgage Fraud Inquiry into New York Attorney General Letitia James
The Trump administration has suggested New York Attorney General Letitia James face prosecution amid claims of mortgage fraud. This development unfolds after James secured a $454 million civil fraud judgment against the former president, accusing him of exaggerating his financial standing by billions to obtain favorable loan and insurance conditions.
Allegations of False Statements on Mortgage Applications
The referral for potential prosecution originates from William J. Pulte, Director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Pulte alleges that James “falsified records” to secure a $218,780 mortgage for a Virginia residence in August 2023. This occurred shortly before she initiated prosecution against Trump in his civil fraud trial.
It is claimed that James asserted the Virginia property as her “principal residence” despite her position as New York’s chief legal officer. Further complicating matters is an unusual instance where James purportedly acquired a residence in both 1983 and 2000, with her father as a co-signer, where they were reportedly listed as “husband in wife.”
Pulte also points to a prior instance involving a Brooklyn residence purchased by James in February 2001. He contends that James “consistently misrepresented the same property as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications.”
“While this occurred some time ago, it raises significant concerns regarding the veracity of Ms. James’ representations on mortgage applications,” Pulte stated in his letter. “Ms. James, concerning both properties mentioned, appears to have falsified records to meet specific lending criteria and obtain advantageous loan terms,” he added.
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The alleged offenses encompass charges ranging from wire fraud and mail fraud to bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
According to the New York Post, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office has not yet commenced a comprehensive investigation into these allegations.
Trump’s Social Media Post and James’s Response
This referral follows a Truth Social post by Donald Trump, linking to reports from a conservative media outlet detailing the fraud claims against James. Trump asserted that Letitia James, describing her as a “totally corrupt politician,” should “resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY.”
DailyMail.com has sought comments from both the Department of Justice and Attorney General James’ office regarding these developments.
James’s Ongoing Investigations and Stance Against Trump
Meanwhile, Attorney General James is currently examining potential insider trading cases related to President Trump’s 90-day tariff pause, as reported by the Post.
Following Trump’s victory against Kamala Harris, James indicated her intent to continue pursuing cases against Donald Trump, vowing to resist any potential “revenge or retribution.” She affirmed her commitment not to compromise the state’s integrity or principles while aiming to collaborate with the new administration.
Acknowledging the unexpected election outcome, James stated, “we did not expect this result, but we are prepared to respond to this result.” She emphasized her office’s preparedness, stating, “And my office has been preparing for several months because we’ve been here before. We faced this challenge before, and we used the rule of law to fight back.”
James declared, “And we are prepared to fight back once again, because as the attorney general of this great state, it is my job to protect and defend the rights of New Yorkers and the rule of law,” adding that she “will not shrink from that responsibility.”
Past Legal Actions Against Trump Administration
She highlighted her office’s nearly 100 legal actions against Trump’s first administration between 2019 and 2021. These actions challenged policies such as capping state and local tax deductions and attempts to curtail funds for law enforcement.
The Attorney General’s office also engaged in legal battles to uphold President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, oppose a citizenship question on the 2020 census, and prevent efforts to dismantle the U.S. Postal Service.
James Prepared for Continued Legal Battles
Drawing on these prior experiences, James conveyed her understanding of the incoming Trump administration’s potential actions and has formulated contingency plans to address any challenges. “We’re ready to respond to any attempts to cut or eliminate funding to the great state of New York,” she asserted after Trump’s presidential win.
“So despite what has happened on the national stage, we will continue to stand tall in the face of injustice, revenge or retribution,” James affirmed.
“This is not the time to be fearful, New York, but faithful and steadfast, knowing that I, as the attorney general, along with my entire team, we are guardians of the law and we are prepared, my friends, to fight back,” she declared.
In addition to the civil fraud case, James has identified Trump’s Westchester golf club and Seven Springs estate as potential assets for seizure to fulfill bond payment obligations.
The former president has appealed the substantial ruling, and appellate court judges raised critical questions to New York prosecutors in September, suggesting a potential inclination to favor Trump’s position in the case. The judges questioned the nearly half-billion-dollar penalty and the identification of harmed parties, given the absence of financial losses for either side.
However, the court has not yet issued any rulings in the appeal. When questioned about the case recently, James simply stated, “she is ‘not fearful of Donald Trump.'”