New York Attorney General Letitia James faces serious mortgage fraud allegations involving falsified documents, misrepresented property details, and claims she listed her father as her spouse on loan applications.
Key Takeaways
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency has sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice alleging Letitia James committed mortgage fraud by falsifying records to secure favorable loan terms.
- James allegedly misrepresented a Virginia property as her principal residence, incorrectly described a New York property as having four units instead of five, and falsely claimed her father was her husband on documents.
- When confronted by reporters at her Brooklyn home, James avoided questions about the scandal by pretending to be on a phone call.
- The allegations come with ironic timing, as James previously prosecuted Donald Trump for civil fraud involving misleading financial statements.
- The DOJ could potentially investigate charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and false statements to financial institutions.
Criminal Referral Against New York’s Top Prosecutor
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte has sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, accusing New York Attorney General Letitia James of mortgage fraud. The referral, addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, details allegations that James falsified records to meet lending requirements and secure favorable loan terms for properties in Virginia and New York. These serious accusations could potentially lead to charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to a financial institution.
According to the documents cited in the referral, James allegedly misrepresented a property in Virginia as her principal residence when it was not. She also reportedly described a New York property as a four-unit structure instead of the five units it actually contained. These misrepresentations would have allowed her to qualify for loans with more favorable terms than she might otherwise have received. The allegations first gained public attention following reports by retired NYPD inspector Paul Mauro, who cited documents presented by Sam Antar.
The mortgage fraud accusations against NYS AG Letitia James are serious and cannot be written off as politically motivated. Here’s the roadmap why – having covered corporate accounting scandals, taxes and the IRS, the details here are pretty overwhelming. Again, these are… pic.twitter.com/H2jPCXXHN3
— Elizabeth MacDonald (@LizMacDonaldFOX) April 16, 2025
Family Relationship Misrepresentation
Perhaps the most unusual allegation involves James allegedly listing her father as her husband on mortgage documents. The New York Post reported that James and her father were listed as “husband and wife” on property documents from 1983 and 2000. This misrepresentation would have allowed her to file as a married couple, potentially offering different benefits than filing as a single applicant or in another capacity. The documents have raised serious questions about James’ integrity as the state’s top law enforcement officer.
When reporters attempted to question James about these allegations outside her Brooklyn home, she avoided addressing the scandal by pretending to be engaged in a phone conversation. This apparent evasion has only fueled further speculation about the validity of the accusations. While James has not been formally charged with any crime, the referral represents a significant development that could lead to an official investigation by the Department of Justice.
Ironic Timing and Political Implications
The allegations against James carry particular irony given her high-profile case against President Donald Trump. In 2022, James brought a civil fraud suit against Trump and the Trump Organization, which resulted in a $454 million judgment currently under appeal. Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley highlighted this stark contrast in how similar allegations are being treated across political lines.
“This is a person who prosecuted Trump for everything short of ripping a label off a mattress, and among the charges that were brought in New York, in just the civil but the criminal case, was making false or misleading statements to financial institutions. As for James, if we apply the Letitia James standard that she created, there’d be little question here. This seems pretty straightforward,” said Turley.
Trump has seized on the allegations, calling for James’ immediate resignation. “Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote. “Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office.” Meanwhile, James’s office has responded, stating she “is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers” and “will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are.”
