Trump admin alleges Letitia James committed ‘multiple instances’ of mortgage fraud — including claim she and her father signed docs stating ‘they were husband and wife’

The Trump administration connected Monday accused New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, of owe fraud successful a transgression referral to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The 3-page referral was sent by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The bureau alleges James, successful “multiple instances, falsified slope documents and spot records” successful bid to unafraid “government backed assistance and loans and much favorable indebtedness terms.”

The Empire State’s apical instrumentality enforcement authoritative has agelong been a thorn successful President Donald Trump’s side. In 2019, James began a civilian fraud probe into the Trump Organization, and a suit followed successful 2022. In 2023, connected motions for summary judgment, the institution and respective Trump household members were recovered liable for fraud. In early 2024, the justice overseeing the substance issued a civilian punishment of $354 million.

Now, the alleged fraud footwear is connected the different foot.

In the letter, which refers to “media reports” but does not straight mention any, Pulte says James “potentially” falsified “residence presumption for a Norfolk, Virginia-based location successful bid to unafraid a little owe rate” and misrepresented “property descriptions to conscionable stringent requirements for authorities backed loans” and assistance.

In August 2023, James allegedly listed the Old Dominion spot arsenic her “principal residence” successful a Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac signifier and subsequently “reaffirmed [the Virginia property] would beryllium her superior residence” successful owe documents, according to the letter.

Then, successful July 2024, a gathering licence says James’ New York spot is described arsenic the “James Residence” and a container is ticked saying the spot “Remain Occupied,” according to the letter.

“Primary residence mortgages person much favorable indebtedness terms, including little involvement rates, than secondary residence mortgages,” the missive reads. “At the clip of the 2023 Norfolk, VA spot acquisition and mortgage, Ms. James was the sitting Attorney General of New York and is required by instrumentality to person her superior residence successful the authorities of New York-even though her owe applications database her intent to person the Norfolk, VA spot arsenic her superior home.”

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The missive besides accuses James of downplaying the size of her flat gathering successful Brooklyn. A January 2001 certificate of occupancy lists the spot arsenic a five-family dwelling; successful February 2001, however, James secured a definite benignant of indebtedness lone disposable for buildings with 4 oregon less units, Pulte’s missive alleges.

“Spanning the past 2 decades, Ms. James has consistently misrepresented the aforesaid spot arsenic lone having 4 units successful some gathering licence applications and galore owe documents and applications,” the missive reads. “Ms. James whitethorn person listed the Brooklyn, NY spot arsenic 4 units alternatively of 5 units successful bid to conscionable the conforming indebtedness requirements, and frankincense person amended involvement rates. Ms. James besides appears to person utilized this aforesaid falsification successful bid to person owe assistance.”

Finally, successful an investigation section, the missive contains allegations astir James and her begetter that apt autumn beyond statutes of limitations.

From the letter, astatine length:

For your reference, I person besides attached documentation which shows successful 1983 that Ms. James and her begetter signed owe documents that stated that they were hubby and woman successful bid to unafraid a location mortgage. Then, connected May 4, 2000, Ms. James was listed again arsenic “husband and wife” successful documents. While this was a agelong clip ago, it raises superior concerns astir the validity of Ms. James representations connected owe applications.

In a statement, the lawyer general’s bureau responded sharply to the FHFA letter.

“Attorney General James is focused each azygous time connected protecting New Yorkers, particularly arsenic this Administration weaponizes the national authorities against the regularisation of instrumentality and the Constitution,” a spokesperson told Law&Crime successful an email. “She volition not beryllium intimidated by bullies — nary substance who they are.”

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On Sunday evening, the 45th and 47th president referenced the fraud allegations against James, though not the FHFA referral, by linking to a quality nonfiction successful a post connected Truth Social.

“Letitia James, a wholly corrupt politician, should resign from her presumption arsenic New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote. “Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it tin ne'er beryllium done with this wacky crook successful office.”

No charges person been filed against James.