Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James has been referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for potential prosecution for allegedly falsifying mortgage documents, according to a letter that the head of the Federal Housing Agency (FHFA) sent the DOJ on Monday.
The FHFA referred James to the DOJ for possible prosecution for allegedly falsifying records to secure a more favorable mortgage rate on a Virginia home in 2023, according to the FHFA’s letter. James has long been a prominent foe of President Donald Trump and prosecuted the Trump Organization for fraud in New York in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
It is my responsibility, my duty, and my job to enforce the law.
No matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think you may have, no one is above the law.
Justice will prevail. pic.twitter.com/1WQoHmUt9h
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) October 2, 2023
FHFA Director William Pulte sent the referral letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Specifically, Pulte alleged that James submitted a mortgage application for the Norfolk, Va. property that described the home as her “principal residence” in 2023 while she was serving as New York’s attorney general, a position that requires primary residence in the state.
“Based on media reports, Ms. Letitia James has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms,” Pulte’s letter states. “This has potentially included 1) falsifying residence status for a Norfolk, Va.-based home in order to secure a lower mortgage rate and 2) misrepresenting property descriptions to meet stringent requirements for government backed loans and government assistance.”
The media reports Pulte cites in the letter appear to come from an investigation first published by White Collar Fraud.
Pulte said in the letter that mortgage lenders typically view secondary residences as riskier to finance because a distressed borrower is more likely to direct limited resources to paying off the primary residence while allowing payments on the secondary residence to start lapsing first.
The letter also alleges that James has filed falsified mortgage paperwork for a separate property she owns in Brooklyn, N.Y. That particular property is a five-family unit, but James has allegedly filed documents saying it is a four-family unit, according to Pulte’s letter.
The alleged misconduct in Virginia occurred in August 2023, shortly before James began her trial against the Trump Organization for allegedly inflating property values to deceive lenders. In that case, the state ordered Trump, some of his family members and former Trump Organization executives to pay a combined several hundred million dollars in fines.
James’ office did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Fox News/”Hannity”)
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