New York AG James Says Mortgage Fraud Allegations Are Baseless

A Trump administration official sent a letter to the Justice Department referring her for criminal prosecution.

New York Attorney General Letitia James arrives for former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Nov. 8, 2023. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New York Attorney General Letitia James responded to a letter sent by a Trump administration official referring her for prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud, saying the claims “are baseless.”

This week, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleging that the Democratic attorney general falsified records to obtain better home mortgage rates.

However, James told local news outlet Spectrum 1 on Thursday that she believes the letter from Pulte is a sign that President Donald Trump is seeking “revenge” and suggested she is being “bullied” in response to the case she brought against Trump that resulted in a $454 million criminal judgment last year.

“Let me just say to all New Yorkers and to all Americans: The allegations are baseless. The allegations are nothing more than a revenge tour,” she said.

“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.”

James told the outlet that her office will officially respond to Pulte’s letter “at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way.”

“I am more focused, again, on standing up for the freedoms, the liberties and the rule of law in the state of New York,” she said.

The letter from Pulte, addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleges that James has “in multiple instances” falsified bank documents and property records to obtain federally backed assistance for mortgages and better terms for her loans.

“This has potentially included 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,“ he wrote, citing ”media reports” for his claims.

James was also accused by Pulte of not accurately representing a description of a piece of property that she owns in Brooklyn in order to meet the requirements for securing a federal loan.

“For both properties listed above, [she] appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms,” Pulte alleged.

And in 1983, according to the criminal referral, James and her father said they were husband and wife in order to obtain a home mortgage, and they allegedly did so again in documents dated in May 2000.

In response to Pulte’s referral, Bondi told Fox News on Wednesday that her office is now “reviewing” the matter but noted that no one in her office has read it yet. A spokesperson for James told The Epoch Times on Thursday that her office believes the referral is a weaponization of the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution.

Last year, a judge found that the Trump Organization, Trump, and his two sons had committed fraud and ordered them to pay $454 million. The judgment, which Trump has criticized as politically biased in nature, has since been appealed.