Letitia James Will Be Indicted Soon, Hires Hunter Biden Lawyer

Trump Administration Refers NY AG Letitia James for Criminal Probe Over Alleged Mortgage Fraud

April 25, 2025 — New York Attorney General Letitia James, a prominent adversary of former President Donald Trump, faces allegations of mortgage fraud as the Trump administration escalates its pursuit of political opponents. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has referred James to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for potential criminal prosecution, citing alleged misrepresentations in real estate transactions. In response, James has retained high-profile defense attorney Abbe Lowell, known for representing Hunter Biden, to counter what she calls “baseless” accusations driven by political retribution.

Letitia James admitted 'making a mistake' when she falsely claimed Virginia home as her primary residence.

The FHFA, led by Director William Pulte, sent a criminal referral letter on April 14, 2025, to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The letter, first reported by The New York Post, accuses James of falsifying bank documents and property records to secure favorable loan terms for properties in Norfolk, Virginia, and Brooklyn, New York. Specifically, Pulte alleges that James misrepresented a 2023 Virginia home purchase as her primary residence, despite New York law requiring her, as a statewide elected official, to maintain residency in the state. Additionally, the referral claims James listed a Brooklyn multi-family property as a four-unit residence instead of five in mortgage documents since 2001, potentially to qualify for better loan terms. A third, less prominent allegation cites decades-old documents from 1983 and 2000 that allegedly misidentified James and her father as “husband and wife” in mortgage applications.

James, who has not been formally charged, has vehemently denied the allegations. In an April 18, 2025, interview with NY1, she described the referral as “nothing more than a revenge tour” and vowed not to be “silenced, bullied, or intimidated.” Her office clarified that the Virginia property is occupied by her niece, Shamice Thompson-Hairston, who co-signed the $219,780 mortgage, and that the Brooklyn property has been consistently treated as a four-unit, owner-occupied residence since its purchase. To bolster her defense, James has enlisted Abbe Lowell, a seasoned white-collar defense attorney who previously represented Hunter Biden, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner. Lowell, in a six-page letter to Bondi on April 24, 2025, called the referral “improper political retribution” and provided evidence, including a loan application where James explicitly stated the Virginia property was not her primary residence, to refute the allegations. The New York Times reported Lowell’s assertion that the claims lack “any credible foundation” and are part of Trump’s “all-too-familiar playbook” of targeting legal foes.

The referral comes amid heightened tensions between James and the Trump administration. James secured a $454 million civil fraud judgment against Trump in 2024 for inflating property values, a case he is appealing. She is also leading ongoing investigations, including one into alleged insider trading tied to Trump’s 90-day tariff pause and a lawsuit filed on March 31, 2025, challenging the administration’s $11 billion health funding clawback. The Trump administration has taken retaliatory actions against critics, including revoking security clearances for James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump in a hush-money case. Trump himself amplified the allegations on Truth Social, calling James a “wacky crook” and demanding her immediate resignation.

Legal experts are divided on the allegations’ merit. Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, told Fox News that applying James’ own legal standards from the Trump case makes the accusations “pretty straightforward,” citing the irony of her facing similar charges. However, real estate attorney Michael J. Fichera Jr., speaking to Gothamist, noted that James’ niece’s occupancy of the Virginia property could provide a valid defense, though her signature on a document claiming it as her primary residence remains a “salient issue.” Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek that misrepresenting residency for better mortgage rates could constitute fraud, but the DOJ has not confirmed an active investigation.

Sources: The New York Times, Axios, NBC New York, Gothamist, Fox News, Newsweek, CBS New York, AP

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