NY Attorney General Letitia James Charged in Mortgage Fraud Investigation

New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted in Alexandria, VA, following an investigation into mortgage fraud allegations.

James had been under investigation since May over a 2023 mortgage. The investigation looked into a loan she took out to help her niece buy a home in Norfolk, VA.

The indictment comes after a federal grand jury in Virginia heard evidence from Lindsey Halligan—President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer whom he picked as U.S. attorney in Eastern Virginia— over his frustration about what he felt was the slow pace of the James investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

James prosecuted a civil fraud case against Trump last year, which resulted in a $500 million fine. That fine was thrown out on appeal in August. But Trump was found liable for not disclosing his net worth on official documents that financially benefited him.

The charges against James come after Trump has continued to publicly call for his enemies to be investigated and prosecuted in court.

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted in September on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to making false statements.

The Justice Department also opened investigations into John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, and California Democrat Adam Schiff.

Cheater tip line

Last spring, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte announced a tip line, saying "anyone and everyone can submit tips on anyone fraudulently filling out mortgage [applications]" by emailing FraudTips@fhfa.gov.

"There is no room for fraud in our mortgage markets. None. We will continue to root out frauds and cheats wherever we find it. No one and no company is above the law—no one," Pulte wrote in a post on X.

Pulte's fraud tip line announcement came a day after he sent a letter to the Justice Department recommending a criminal investigation into James over allegedly falsifying information on mortgage applications.

“Ms. James, for both properties listed above, appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms,” Pulte wrote in the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, dated April 14.

A day before Pulte referred James for prosecution, Trump had highlighted a media report about the allegations against his longtime nemesis, posting on his Truth Social site that she "should resign from her position ... IMMEDIATELY."