President Donald Trump’s administration referred Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James to the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday for potential mortgage fraud prosecution.
According to documents obtained by “The Ingraham Angle” on Fox News, the Federal Housing Finance Agency sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department on Tuesday regarding reporters of mortgage fraud linked to the New York attorney general. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte accused James of allegedly falsifying records to meet loan requirements and receive better loan terms.
The criminal referral accused James of providing “falsified records” to receive home loans for a Virginia property that she allegedly claimed as her “principal residence” in 2023.
“Ms. James was the sitting Attorney General of New York and is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York — even though her mortgage applications list her intent to have the Norfolk, VA, property as her primary home,” Pulte wrote.
Pulte added, “It appears Ms. James’ property and mortgage-related misrepresentations may have continued to her recent 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase in order to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable loan terms.”
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Pulte’s letter also referenced a five-family residence in Brooklyn, New York, that James purchased in February of 2001. Pulte claimed that James has “consistently misrepresented the same property as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications.”
Pulte told Bondi and Blanche, “Ms. James, for both properties listed above, appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms.”
Tuesday’s letter also said James purchased another property and had her father listed as a co-signer; however, the documents from 1983 and 2000 had James and her father listed as “husband and wife.”
According to The New York Post, Pulte’s letter indicated that James’ actions could lead to criminal charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, and false statements made to a financial institution.
In a statement obtained by The New York Post following Tuesday’s criminal referral, a James spokesperson said, “Attorney General James is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers, especially as this Administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution. She will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are.”
Prior to Tuesday’s criminal referral, Trump slammed James on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, writing, “Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY. Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office.”
