Digging Deeper: The FBI Inquiry Against New York's Attorney General
Criminal probe launched by U.S. Department of Justice against New York's Attorney General - Investigation Launched: Criminal Probe Initiated by U.S. Department of Justice against New York's Attorney General
The FBI has launched a criminal investigation into Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York State. This investigation is centered around James' real estate transactions and allegations of forgery, triggered by a criminal referral from William Pulte, a former director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) appointed during the Trump administration [1][3].
The core claims against James include:
- Misrepresenting a single-family home in Norfolk, Virginia, as her personal residence to secure preferable mortgage conditions [1][2][3].
- Deliberately misrepresenting the number of habitable units in a Brooklyn multi-family property. James is accused of listing a five-unit property as a four-unit dwelling to qualify for government-backed mortgage assistance programs with specific unit restrictions, and thus securing better interest rates [1][2][3].
- A long-standing allegation from 1983 pertains to James' father signing mortgage documents falsely attesting to their marital status. However, these details are less emphasized [2].
James' legal representation, Abbe Lowell, has vehemently refuted these charges, labeling them as "unfounded and discredited" and portraying the renewed scrutiny as politically motivated retribution linked to President Donald Trump's public confrontations with James following her successful civil fraud case against him, securing over half a billion dollars [1][2]. Lowell asserted that Pulte ignored updated property documents and pledged readiness to counter false accusations with factual evidence [1].
This development is significant because it targets a state law enforcement official who has previously engaged in legal action against former President Trump. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI have declined comments on the matter. Grand jury subpoenas related to the case have been issued in the Eastern District of Virginia [1][3].
In short, the FBI's inquiry into Letitia James revolves around alleged mortgage fraud involving false representations about property residency status and the number of dwelling units. The investigation originated from a referral made by a Trump-appointed federal housing official and surfaces in a politically charged scenario following James' legal actions against Trump [1][2][3].
References:
[1] NBC News (2023-05-10), FBI Probes NY Attorney General Letitia James Over Alleged Mortgage Fraud
[2] The Guardian (2023-05-10), Letitia James, New York attorney general, under FBI investigation over real estate transactions
[3] The Washington Post (2023-05-10), FBI opens criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James
- The United States Department of Justice and the FBI have remained silent on the ongoing criminal investigation of Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York State, relating to allegedly false mortgage declarations.
- The report from the Washington Post, Guardian Media Group, and NBC News underscores that the investigation in question has its roots in a criminal referral from William Pulte, a former director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency during the Trump administration.
- Allegedly, James misrepresented a single-family home in Norfolk, Virginia, as her personal residence for mortgage purposes in 2024, and deliberately underestimated the number of habitable units in a Brooklyn multi-family property to qualify for federal mortgage assistance with unit restrictions.
- As the investigation proceeds, politics may play a role, given President Donald Trump's ongoing strife with James following a successful civil fraud case against him, which resulted in a settlement of over half a billion dollars.
