New York Attorney General Letitia James is the target of an ethics complaint after she was referred to the Department of Justice for alleged mortgage fraud.
On April 15, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche alleging that James “falsified” records to secure home loans for her Norfolk, Virginia, property. Citing the criminal referral, the Trump-aligned America First Legal submitted a bar complaint with the New York State Unified Court System seeking an investigation and possible disciplinary action.
AFL senior litigation counsel Nicholas Barry wrote that it appeared James had “repeatedly traded in her integrity for a monetary benefit through deceiving lenders and the public in pursuit of personal enrichment,” actions that “harm the rule of law and bring disrepute to the profession.”
“The New York Bar Committee on Professional Standards for the Albany region should immediately launch an investigation into Ms. James’ actions, and if it determines the allegations are true, impose appropriate discipline,” he added.
Barry concluded by using James’s previous words against Trump against her, writing, “no matter how big, rich, or powerful you think you are, no one is above the law.”
In a separate statement, Barry called on James to resign “if the Director’s allegations are accurate.”
Pulte’s letter also targeted James for purchasing a five-family home in Brooklyn and “consistently misrepresent[ing] the same property as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications.”
Because she listed the unit as a four-unit dwelling instead of five, she could have reduced her mortgage rate by as much as 1% and had lower monthly payments under the federal Home Assistance Modification Program, Pulte said.
The New York attorney general has called the allegations of fraud “baseless” and “nothing more than a revenge tour.”
“I will not be silenced. I will not be bullied. I will not bend. I will not break. And I will not bow to anyone. No one is above the law, including the president of these United States,” she told NY1 on April 17, adding that she will respond further to the letter “at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way.”
James has been a major target of Trump and his allies since she repeatedly brought lawsuits against him and his businesses. Trump has accused her of using her position to politically persecute him.
Just before Pulte’s letter, Trump called on James to resign in an April 13 post on Truth Social.
“Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY. Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office,” he said.
LETITIA JAMES FACES CRIMINAL REFERRAL BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR ALLEGED MORTGAGE FRAUD
AFL Vice President Dan Epstein also condemned James in a statement attached to the bar complaint notice.
“If what Director Pulte uncovered is true, then we have a sitting state Attorney General who made false certifications to the United States in return for federal benefits. But why worry about committing fraud against American taxpayers when you are willing to buck your ethical duties to the bar? For a state prosecutor who has maligned the President of the United States for political gain, public accountability will serve as a cure to Letitia James’ endless lawfare and abuse of power,” he said.