Letitia James Busted for Something Else While Facing Mortgage Fraud Probe

New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to appear before an administrative law judge on October 8 over a fence violation at her Clinton Hill residence, where she faces possible fines of up to $500.

The case centers on a 5-foot, 6-inch black iron fence in front of her multi-family brownstone, which exceeds the city’s 4-foot height limit for the historic district, according to records.

The Department of Buildings issued a summons on July 23 following at least three anonymous complaints filed since April.

The property, located in the Clinton Hill Historic District, has also drawn scrutiny from federal authorities in connection with a mortgage fraud investigation.

Letitia James can lower her fence by 18 inches, but she can’t lower the fact her “4-unit” brownstone has five units and six electric meters. 🏚️

$500 fence fine is pocket change. The real penalty is DOJ digging into 20+ years of mortgage fraud.

Article by @LoisWeiss https://t.co/drqOu55HrR

— Sam E. Antar (@SamAntar) September 14, 2025

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City Councilman Robert Holden said residents are increasingly frustrated by what they see as selective enforcement of rules.

“New Yorkers are tired of double standards,” Holden said.

“If the DOB summons and mortgage questions are accurate, Attorney General Letitia James should bring the fence into compliance, pay any penalties, and be fully transparent, because no one is above the law.”

James has until September 26 to either remove the fence or reduce it to the legally permitted height.

If she complies by the deadline, she could avoid paying fines.

Neighbors expressed mixed reactions to the violation notice.

One woman who has lived on the block for years said she was unaware that James was in violation.

The neighbor added that James inherited the fence when she purchased the 120-year-old property in 2001.

She also noted that at least one other nearby home has a similarly tall fence but has not been ticketed.

The federal investigation into James involves allegations of falsifying records to obtain favorable mortgage terms on the Clinton Hill home and another property in Virginia she co-owns with her niece.

The Department of Justice has been reviewing the claims, though James has dismissed the accusations.

She described them as “baseless” and said they stem from her history of legal confrontations with President Trump.

In addition to the fence violation and mortgage probe, city records show James has not paid a required $13 annual property registration fee on the Brooklyn residence.

The fee is mandated by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development for property owners in the city.

The administrative law hearing will determine whether James must pay penalties for the fence violation.

Meanwhile, the federal mortgage fraud investigation remains ongoing, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the state’s top legal officer.

James, who has held office since 2019, has faced criticism from both political opponents and members of her own party over questions of accountability.

The pending hearing and federal review are expected to draw further attention as they play out in the coming weeks.