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4h ago

Federal Grand Jury Indicts NY Attorney General Letitia James Over Norfolk Mortgage

Halligan’s unusual prosecution following reported career-staff resistance has sharpened concerns about DOJ independence.

FILE - New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks, Feb. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Chris Hayes; Letitia James
U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan "did not coordinate" the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James with Attorney General Pam Bondi or other leaders at the Department of Justice, according to CNN. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
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Overview

  • James is charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements tied to a 2020 Norfolk, Virginia home, with prosecutors alleging she claimed it as a secondary residence but rented it out.
  • The indictment says the favorable terms yielded approximately $18,933 in savings over the life of the loan, involving OVM Financial and First Savings Bank.
  • Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer with no prior federal prosecutorial experience, personally presented the case after the prior U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, reportedly resisted charges.
  • James denies wrongdoing and calls the case political retribution, while Democrats and civil-liberties groups criticize the prosecution and DOJ officials assert that no one is above the law.
  • James was summoned to appear in Norfolk federal court on October 24 before U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker, with legal experts expecting pretrial bids to dismiss over selective or vindictive prosecution and noting the small alleged loss is atypical for federal mortgage-fraud cases.