Staff Reports
New York Attorney General Letitia James, long known for her aggressive pursuit of former President Donald Trump over alleged financial misdeeds, now faces a federal criminal referral of her own for alleged mortgage fraud. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has formally asked the Department of Justice to investigate James for allegedly falsifying information on mortgage applications, including misrepresenting her primary residence and the number of units in a Brooklyn property. These accusations, if proven true, would expose a staggering level of hypocrisy from an official who has built her public image on rooting out fraud and corruption.
The heart of the allegations centers on two properties: a home in Norfolk, Virginia, and a multi-family building in Brooklyn, New York. According to the FHFA, James claimed the Virginia property as her primary residence in 2023 to secure a lower mortgage rate, despite being legally required to reside in New York as the state’s attorney general. Meanwhile, records show she repeatedly described her Brooklyn property as a four-unit building on mortgage documents, even though it has been classified as a five-unit property since at least 2001. This misrepresentation could have allowed her to qualify for more favorable government-backed loans, which are only available for properties with four or fewer units.
Adding to the pattern of questionable conduct are historic filings in which James and her father were listed as “husband and wife” on mortgage applications in both 1983 and 2000. Such misstatements, while perhaps easier to overlook decades ago, now form part of a broader narrative suggesting a long-standing willingness to bend the rules for personal benefit. The FHFA’s referral even draws parallels to other high-profile mortgage fraud cases, underscoring the seriousness of the potential violations.
The irony of these allegations is impossible to ignore. James made national headlines—and won the adulation of the left—by prosecuting Donald Trump for allegedly inflating property values to obtain better financing. Now, she stands accused of similar behavior, raising uncomfortable questions about double standards and selective prosecution in our justice system. If the so-called “Letitia James standard” were applied to her actions, as legal experts have pointed out, there would be little doubt about the gravity of her situation.
James’s office has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing her opponents of weaponizing the federal government. However, for many Americans, this defense rings hollow. The rule of law must apply equally to all, regardless of political affiliation or office. If James is found to have engaged in the very fraud she so zealously prosecuted in others, it will serve as a powerful reminder that accountability cannot be reserved only for political adversaries. As this investigation unfolds, the American people deserve transparency and justice, not more partisan gamesmanship from those entrusted with upholding the law.
