Overview

• The Trump administration, through FHFA Director William Pulte, has referred New York Attorney General Letitia James for potential criminal prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud.
• James is accused of claiming a Norfolk, Virginia property as her principal residence in 2023, despite being legally required to reside in New York as the state’s attorney general.
• The referral also alleges James misrepresented a Brooklyn property as having four units instead of five to qualify for more favorable mortgage terms.
• Additional claims include James listing herself and her father as 'husband and wife' on mortgage applications for properties purchased in 1983 and 2000.
• The allegations come in the wake of James's high-profile $454 million civil fraud judgment against Donald Trump, fueling accusations of political retribution.