Politics
BREAKING: Federal Grand Jury Meets To Weigh Charges Against NY AG Letitia James
A federal grand jury is meeting in the Eastern District of Virginia in order to weigh potential criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, Fox News reported Thursday.
James has been under investigation over potential mortgage fraud allegations relating to a Brooklyn townhome she owns, as well as a property in Virginia.
The investigation into James’ real estate properties has been ongoing since April, when Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department.
Pulte alleged James may have “falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms” by listing a Norfolk, Virginia property as her primary residence despite serving as attorney general of New York. The Brooklyn property was listed as her second residence.
“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 in the criminal referral.
“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.”
The letter further alleged that James has “consistently misrepresented” the New York property, which was purchased in 2001, “as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications.” James is further accused of listing her father as her spouse on mortgage papers in order to meet lending rules.
James’ high-powered legal team has denied any wrongdoing, instead blaming the residency issue on an uncorrected clerical error in a template document prepared by a third-party closing company.
The case against James is being overseen by Lindsey Halligan, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Halligan, a former personal attorney of President Donald Trump’s, was appointed last month when longtime department employees loyal to former FBI Director James Comey refused to go along with the investigation into his conduct.
Halligan presented evidence to a grand jury on Thursday, though it is not yet known whether an indictment has been returned as of this report.
