New York Attorney General Letitia James Pleads Not Guilty to Mortgage Fraud Charges
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General letitia James pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of mortgage fraud, escalating โขa legal battle that James adn her โallies claim isโค politically motivated retribution. The indictment,handed โdown October 9,alleges James fraudulently inflated the valueโฃ of properties when seeking loans.
The case against James arrives amidโข a series of indictments targeting individualsโ perceived as opponents โofโข formerโ President Donald Trump, including former FBIโ Director James Comey and โคformer โฃNational Security Advisor John Bolton, fueling accusations of a broaderโฃ “campaign โof retribution.” If convicted on all counts, James faces a maximum sentence of up โto 30 years in prison per count, a $1 million fine perโ count, and potential forfeiture of property.
James,โฃ through herโ attorneys, has vehemently denied the charges, calling them “baseless” and “nothing more than retribution forโ doing my job.” Her legal team has filed motions challenging the appointment of special counsel Bert Halligan as unlawful, mirroring a similar challengeโฃ in the case โagainst Comey. Theyโค haveโค alsoโ moved to enforce rulesโ prohibiting leaksโ from prosecutors, citing a report detailing โคcommunications between Halligan and journalist Anna Bower of Lawfare โ where Halligan allegedly discussed the strength of the evidence presented to the grand jury.
The filings โargue Halligan’s comments to โขBower violate Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure,regulations,court rules,the Justice Department โManual,and ethical guidelines.โ Vice Presidentโ JD Vance โhas statedโฃ that anyโข prosecutions are “driven by law โand not by โpolitics.” The case is expectedโ toโ proceed with furtherโ legal โchallenges and potential โขpre-trial hearings before any trial date โฃis set.