New York Attorney General letitia James has been indicted on charges related to a 2023 mortgage application for a property in Norfolk, according to sources familiar with the matter. The indictment marks a stunning reversal of fortune for James, who recently secured a civil fraud judgment against former president Donald Trump.
The case centers on allegations that James misrepresented the intended use of the norfolk property, initially stating it would be her primary residence on mortgage documents. While James’s legal team argued this was a clerical error, the justice Department pursued the investigation, culminating in the indictment. Ed Martin, former head of the Justice Department’s instrumentality division under Trump, publicly celebrated the charges, posting “Promises made, promises kept” on social media.
The investigation began earlier this year, focusing on a mortgage obtained in 2023. James’s lawyers provided documentation to the Justice Department in April attempting to refute the allegations, claiming the initial statement regarding primary residency was a mistake. Thay presented additional documents, including an email from James to her loan officer stating, “This property WILL NOT BE my primary residence,” and another document where she explicitly checked a box indicating the property would not be her primary residence.
Prior to the indictment,James faced public pressure from Martin,who visited her Brooklyn home in August and sent a letter through his lawyer demanding her resignation. The outcome of this case could significantly impact james’s career and perhaps undermine the civil fraud case against Trump, though legal experts note the two cases are distinct. The next steps involve james’s arraignment and the commencement of legal proceedings to determine the validity of the charges.
