Breaking: DOJ Launches Criminal Probe Against New York AG Letitia James
The Investigative Unit of the Justice Department is scrutinizing a jurist who meted out guilty verdicts against Trump.
In an unexpected twist, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. The probe, which reportedly followed a referral by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in April, alleges mortgage fraud by James, a frequent target of criticism from political heavyweight Donald Trump.
This marks the first criminal investigation into a judicial official involved in cases against Trump, according to the Washington Post.
James, elected from the left wing of the Democratic Party, has been a constant subject of verbal attacks by Trump and his supporters since the inception of the investigation and the civil trial against the Republican billionaire.
From the 2010s, James' office pursued civil suits that culminated in a February 2024 Manhattan civil court ruling. The Trump Organization, including Donald Trump and his sons Eric and Donald Jr., were penalized a $454 million fine for financial fraud, having inflated the value of their assets to secure better bank loans. Despite the ruling, Trump has appealed and has continuously called for James to face charges.
The referral against James centers on two properties—one in Virginia and another in New York—and alleges that she falsified documents to acquire more favorable mortgage terms by claiming her Virginia property as her primary residence.
In an April letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, James' lawyer dismissed the referral as a "political vendetta."
A closer look at the allegations reveals that James is suspected of:
- Listing a home in Norfolk, Virginia as her principal residence while living and working in New York.
- Purchasing a five-family property in Brooklyn with a loan intended for properties with four units or less.
- An accusation from 1983 that her father signed mortgage documents stating they were husband and wife.
Insight: The investigation, initiated by the FBI and part of a broader criminal fraud probe initiated by the Justice Department, is likely to create political ripples given the recent legal actions against Trump and the involvement of a high-profile political figure. The exact details of the investigation remain under wraps as the Justice Department has declined to provide further comment.
- The unexpected twist in general-news comes as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a criminal investigation against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is a frequent target of criticism from billionaire Donald Trump, due to a referral by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in April.
- This investigation, which alleges mortgage fraud, marks a significant step in the war-and-conflicts between James and Trump, as it is the first criminal investigation into a judicial official involved in cases against Trump, according to the Washington Post.
- The probe centers on two properties—one in Virginia and another in New York—and alleges that James falsified documents to acquire more favorable mortgage terms, potentially violating policy-and-legislation and justice.
- As part of the investigation, James is suspected of listing a home in Norfolk, Virginia as her principal residence while living and working in New York, purchasing a five-family property in Brooklyn with a loan intended for properties with four units or less, and an accusation from 1983 that her father signed mortgage documents stating they were husband and wife.
- The implications of this investigation are far-reaching, as it may have repercussions not only for James but also for Manhattan's real estate market and the broader politics scene, given the recent legal actions against Trump and the involvement of a high-profile political figure.
