A spokesperson for AG Letitia James’s office told media outlets that the letter was a form of intimidation.
The Trump administration this week referred New York Attorney General Letitia James to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for possible criminal charges in connection with alleged mortgage fraud.
A criminal referral sent on April 14 by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte alleged that James, a Democrat who filed a civil case against President Donald Trump’s business, falsified business records in federally backed letters to obtain better home mortgages.
“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 from Pulte to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reads.
“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.”
Pulte alleged that James had claimed she lived in Virginia to purchase a home in Norfolk while serving as the attorney general of New York state, where she must live to remain in her position. James allegedly co-signed a mortgage with her niece, Shamice Thompson-Hairston, to jointly purchase a home in Norfolk. The terms of the mortgage required both to use the home as their primary residence starting on Oct. 30, 2023, for at least a year.
In another incident, Pulte accused James of not accurately representing a description of a piece of property that she owns in Brooklyn in order to meet the requirements for securing a federal loan.
“Ms. James, for both properties listed above, appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms,” Pulte said in the letter.
Pulte’s letter also accused James and her father of signing mortgage documents in 1983, saying they “were husband and wife in order to secure a home mortgage,” adding that she again was listed as “husband and wife” in documents dated May 2000.
