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Federal authorities in Albany, including the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office, are investigating New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud, a source close to the probe disclosed to the New York Post.
An April request to the Department of Justice (DOJ) from Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte reportedly prompted the investigation, according to original reporting from the Albany Times Union.
According to The Post, US Attorney John Sarcone III of the Northern District of New York is leading the federal investigation.
James allegedly falsified records to obtain favorable mortgage loans for a Brooklyn apartment and a property in Virginia.
In his criminal referral, Pulte wrote that James could face criminal charges for wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and false statements to a financial institution. He noted that additional charges could be warranted during the investigation.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., released a blistering statement upon the announcement of the investigation.
She commended the DOJ for stepping in and wrote, “Nobody is above the law. These serious allegation—falsifying records to secure favorable loan terms on properties in Virginia and New York—threaten public trust in our institutions. The hypocrisy is staggering: Tish James allegedly committed the same crime that she falsely and illegally prosecuted President Donald Trump for.”
Stefanik has sounded the alarm on James for many years, including a bar complaint to the New York State Committee on Professional Standards.
She also pointed out how she exposed New York Governor Kathy Hochul for sneaking funding into the state’s budget to pay for James’ legal expenses.
“This abuse of power is an insult to New Yorkers already struggling with high taxes,” Stefanik wrote.
During a Fox News interview, law professor Jonathan Turley detailed the “breathtaking irony” of the denials from James’ legal defense.
“So the karma is crushing here. But the greatest irony, of course, is to hear her counsel and her spokesperson say, you know, this is just wrong because Trump campaigned on moving against his enemies. For those of us who have covered this litigation for years, having those words come out of the mouths of James’ staff really is breathtaking. She campaigned on a promise to bag Donald Trump on something, she didn’t even bother to name what it was. She literally campaigned on the promise that she would nail him on anything, and then she filled in the violation later.”
