New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted in Virginia Mortgage Case

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted in a rare mortgage fraud case, facing allegations of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution in connection with a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) claims James misrepresented the property on her mortgage application, listing it as a secondary residence to qualify for more favorable loan terms. Prosecutors allege that the home was actually purchased as an investment property, which carries stricter mortgage requirements and higher interest rates, giving James access to financing she otherwise would not have qualified for.

In response, James denounced the indictment, calling it “nothing more than a continuation of President Donald Trump’s weaponization of our justice system” and describing the charges as baseless political retaliation.

The case has drawn attention due to the unusual prosecutorial circumstances. Former Trump personal lawyer Lindsey Halligan, with no prior federal prosecutorial experience, presented the case to a grand jury after veteran career prosecutor Erik Siebert resigned, having resisted pressure to file charges. Civil liberties groups, including the New York Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU, have criticized the indictment as an example of political abuse of power.

This legal action follows prior litigation against Trump, including a 2023 case in which he and the Trump Organization were found liable for bank fraud related to falsified loan records. James has previously been publicly criticized by Trump during those proceedings.

James is scheduled to appear in court for her initial hearing on October 24, 2025, in Norfolk, Virginia.