New York Attorney General Letitia James, who famously prosecuted Donald Trump for fraud, now faces her own federal criminal referral for allegedly falsifying mortgage documents and listing her father as her spouse to secure favorable loans.
At a Glance
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency has referred NY Attorney General Letitia James to the Department of Justice over alleged mortgage fraud
- James is accused of misrepresenting properties and falsely listing her father as her husband on mortgage documents
- FHFA Director William Pulte claims James altered records to secure favorable loan terms
- James recently won a $454 million civil fraud judgment against Donald Trump that is currently under appeal
- When confronted by reporters at her Brooklyn home, James dodged questions about the allegations
Federal Criminal Referral Details
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice regarding New York Attorney General Letitia James over alleged mortgage fraud. FHFA Director William Pulte claims James falsified records to meet lending requirements and secure favorable loan terms on multiple properties. The referral includes allegations of wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to financial institutions.
According to documents cited in the referral, James allegedly misrepresented a property in Virginia as her principal residence when it was not. She also purportedly listed a New York property as a four-unit structure instead of five units, which would have subjected her to different lending criteria. These allegations echo similar types of misrepresentations that James accused former President Trump of making in her own civil fraud case against him.
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 in the referral is that James falsely listed her father as her husband on property documents from 1983 and 2000. This allowed James to file as a married couple, potentially gaining financial advantages in the loan approval process. The New York Post initially reported these claims, which were later included in the federal referral by FHFA Director Pulte.
The accusations surfaced following research and documents presented by Sam Antar through the White Collar Fraud platform. Retired NYPD inspector Paul Mauro reportedly investigated these allegations weeks before the official referral was made. The Department of Justice has not yet responded to the criminal referral or indicated whether it will open a formal investigation.
James Avoids Confrontation
When reporters attempted to question James about the allegations outside her Brooklyn home, she appeared to dodge accountability. According to the New York Post, James pretended to be on the phone to avoid addressing reporters’ questions about the mortgage fraud scandal. This evasion comes after James has repeatedly stated that “no one is above the law” during her prosecution of Trump.
Trump has publicly called for James’ resignation, calling her a “totally corrupt politician” and a “wacky crook.” Meanwhile, James’ office has responded to the allegations by stating she “is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers” and “will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are.” James has not been formally charged with any crime at this point.
Legal and Political Implications
The timing of these allegations has raised questions about potential political motivations, given James’ ongoing legal battles with the Trump administration. She recently won a $454 million civil fraud judgment against Trump, which is currently under appeal. James has also led numerous legal actions against the Trump administration in 2025, including lawsuits related to federal government actions and funding cuts.
Legal analysts note the irony that James faces accusations similar to those she leveled against Trump in her civil fraud case. Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley highlighted this contradiction, suggesting that by James’ own legal standards, her alleged actions would constitute clear violations. While some critics suggest the referral might be retaliatory, FHFA officials have denied any political motivation behind the investigation.
