The FBI has opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud following a letter from Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte urging a probe into the matter.
“This is being handled at this time by main (Department of) Justice and the Albany FBI field office,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, as per the Times Union. “We stand prepared to act in the capacity that we need to when and if we are informed there’s a charge to be made. Unlike Letitia James, who unethically ran around the state campaigning on getting Donald Trump… my office conducts itself in a manner that is proper and professional.”
In his letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, Pulte said James has “in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms.”
Pulte wrote that these actions include “1) falsifying residence status for a Norfolk, Virginia-based home in order to secure a lower mortgage rate and 2) misrepresenting property descriptions to meet stringent requirements for government backed loans and government assistance.”
“At the time of the 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase and mortgage, Ms. James was the siting Attorney General of New York and is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York—even though her mortgage applications list her intent to have the Norfolk, VA property as her primary home,” the letter adds. “It appears Ms. James’ property and mortgage-related misrepresentations may have continued to her recent 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase in order to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable loan terms.”
James has asserted the allegations are “baseless.”
