Yes, you read that correctly. NY’s Attorney General, Letitia James is facing serious charges of alleged mortgage fraud. This is the same person who has spent the last four years and then some going after Donald Trump for fraud and anything else she could think of that might stick.

The charges are pretty serious. 

William J. Pulte, the director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), made the referral Monday to Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy Todd Blanche, and attached evidence he said corroborated earlier media reports alleging irregularities in a series of loans James obtained, including for a property in Virginia.

“In the course of exercising U.S. Federal Housing’s authority under the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, U.S. Federal Housing has identified matters that are appropriate for referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for consideration of criminal prosecution,” Pulte wrote.

“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,” the letter added. “This has potentially included 1) falsifying residence status for a Norfolk, Virginia-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.”

Boy howdy, that sure does sound similar to what she’s been accusing President Trump of now doesn’t it? Oh, but there’s much more to this, especially once you get into the details. 

Letitia James has been New York’s Attorney General since 2019. Why then would she claim a home in Norfolk, Virginia as her primary residence…in 2023?

A “specific power of attorney” document signed by James on August 17, 2023, shows her intent to change her residence to Norfolk, Virginia. The attorney general authorized her relative, Shamice Thompson-Hairston, to act on her behalf.

The document states: “I HEREBY DECLARE that I intend to occupy this property as my principal residence.”

~Snip

The 1,450-square-foot single-family home property in Norfolk was built in 1947 and has three bedrooms and one bathroom, per the deed. It was purchased for $240,000, with a $219,780 mortgage.

James and Thompson-Hairston have equal ownership rights as both are listed within as co-owners in “joint tenancy with right of survivorship as at common law.” Thompson-Hairston signed both the mortgage document and later signed another document, making herself attorney of fact.

That entire transaction is wrong on multiple levels, but there’s one key reason why that purchase is a problem for James. By LAW, Letitia Jame’s primary residence HAS to be in the state of New York. Otherwise, that office is to be declared vacant. OOPS. 

Oh, but that’s not the only mortgage fraud allegation against her. Nope, there are at least two others. 

One: She’s managed to claim on mortgage documents and building permits since 2001, that a five unit dwelling is actually a FOUR unit dwelling. By doing so she was able to get a vastly different and more favorable interest rate versus what she would’ve gotten if she’d followed the rules and appropriately claimed it was five units. 

Two: Way back in 1983 and then again in 2000, Letitia James co-signed on a property with her Dad. The problem with that is, documents show they are listed as ….HUSBAND AND WIFE. 

Letitia James has spent the last few years going after President Trump while claiming that NO ONE is above the law. 

Letitia James engaged in some of the most shameful, partisan lawfare against President Trump—based on far less evidence than this.

No one is above the law. https://t.co/FxSvm4XGSJ

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) April 16, 2025

Interesting that those words are now coming back to haunt her. 

Here’s the other thing with this that Bonchie at Red State points out. This wasn’t a referral from Congress to the DOJ. Nope. This came DIRECTLY from the U.S. Housing Federal Finance Agency. Quite frankly, what’s outlined here, is very serious. 

This same agency already prevailed against Baltimore’s Marilyn Mosby. I don’t think they would’ve made this move if they didn’t have all their ducks in a row. 

As Cynical Publius on X points out, it’s likely Letitia James will try any or all of the following gambits. 

This was just an administrative error!

This is racism!

I’M the victim, Donald Trump is being a big meanie!

And go running to the media who will fawn all over her. 

He’s spot on. One or all of those will be used to defend herself. Or, as Jonathan Turley points out in his op-ed, James could attempt to claim that it was the third party representing her who made those mistakes. 

Again, these charges in the referral documents are pretty serious. Letitia James has some explaining to do!

Feature Photo Credit: Letitia James 2023 campaign for Attorney General via Flickr, cropped and modified.