Overview
- U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker rejected a defense bid to require prosecutors to track all communications with reporters in the mortgage fraud case.
- Walker ordered the government to preserve records and communications related to the investigation through a litigation hold.
- The court declined prosecutors’ request to impose a gag order on New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- Walker described interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan’s Signal exchange with Lawfare editor Anna Bower as “unusual” without finding it improper or ruling it subject to discovery.
- James pleaded not guilty to bank fraud and false-statement charges tied to a 2020 Norfolk mortgage that allegedly saved about $18,933 through an occupancy misrepresentation.