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Trump medication accuses N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James of imaginable owe fraud
More than a twelvemonth aft New York Attorney General Letitia James won a half-billion dollar civilian fraud lawsuit against President Trump, the Justice Department nether Mr. Trump has launched a transgression fraud probe targeting James, aggregate sources acquainted with the probe told CBS News.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is starring the investigation.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York John A. Sarcone III told the Albany Times-Union that the probe was "being handled astatine this clip by main [Department of] Justice and the Albany FBI tract office."
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
The probe began aft William Pulte, manager of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, wrote a missive to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging that James "has, successful aggregate instances, falsified slope documents and spot records to get authorities backed assistance and loans and much favorable indebtedness terms."
Pulte claimed James received deals connected owe presumption by falsifying accusation related to aggregate properties, implicit the people of decades. The allegations see listing a location successful Norfolk, Virginia arsenic her "principal residence" contempt surviving and moving successful New York, buying a five-family spot successful Brooklyn with a indebtedness that is lone disposable for homes with 4 units oregon less, and an accusation that, successful 1983, James' begetter signed owe documents stating they were hubby and wife.
James has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless." James' bureau connected Thursday declined to comment.
Abbe Lowell — an lawyer for James whose steadfast often represents clients that it believes person been unfairly targeted by the Trump medication — has besides derided the investigation.
In a connection to CBS News, Lowell called the allegations "baseless and long-discredited" and said that the probe "appears to beryllium the governmental retribution President Trump threatened to nonstop that AG Bondi assured the Senate would not hap connected her watch. If prosecutors are genuinely funny successful the truth, we are prepared to conscionable mendacious claims with facts."
Last month, Lowell sent a missive to the Department of Justice refuting the allegations laid retired successful Pulte's letter. In a missive to Bondi, Lowell called the allegations "long-disproven" and the investigation, "the latest enactment of improper governmental retribution — this clip directed astatine Ms. James — publically instigated and endorsed by President Trump."
In February 2024, a New York justice ordered Mr. Trump, his institution and 2 of his big sons to wage the State of New York astir $364 million. The figure, with involvement accumulated implicit much than a decade, presently totals much than $500 million. Trump has appealed the ruling.
The ruling came aft a lengthy civilian proceedings successful which James' bureau accused Mr. Trump of spearheading an effort to usage fraudulent spot valuations and estimates of Mr. Trump's nett worthy to get favorable indebtedness rates and security deals helium wouldn't different person gotten received.
The fig Mr. Trump was ordered to wage reflected the judge's calculation of however overmuch Mr. Trump and his institution benefited done the scheme.
Mr. Trump has agelong raged against the case, and James — adjacent suing her unsuccessfully successful an effort to halt her fraud probe earlier a suit could beryllium filed by the state.
Mr. Trump was forced to instrumentality the basal successful November 2023 during the trial, lashing retired astatine James during his hourslong testimony, and calling the fraud lawsuit "a terrible, unspeakable thing."
Jennifer Jacobs is simply a elder White House newsman astatine CBS News.
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