N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James: Mortgage fraud claims ‘baseless,’ part of Trump ‘revenge tour’

New York Attorney General Letitia James called the Trump administration’s mortgage fraud allegations against her “baseless” and said they were part of a “revenge tour” by President Trump, whom she successfully prosecuted for civil fraud during his 2024 presidential campaign.

“Let me just say to all New Yorkers and to all Americans: The allegations are baseless,” Ms. James told NY1 on Thursday. “The allegations are nothing more than a revenge tour.

“As you know, as any good attorney, I will not litigate this case in a camera. It is important that we respond to these allegations at the appropriate time and in an appropriate way,” she added, as reported by the New York Post.

“I will not go back and forth with respect to these baseless allegations. I am more focused again on standing up for freedom, liberties and the rule of law in the state of New York.”

The Trump administration this week alleged that she committed mortgage fraud on two properties — one in Virginia and one in New York.

William Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department on Monday charging that Ms. James falsified documents and property records to obtain loans.

In one incident cited in the referral, Ms. James claimed she lived in Virginia to buy a home in Norfolk while serving as New York attorney general, where she must reside for her job.

In a separate incident, she allegedly misrepresented the description of a property she owns in Brooklyn, New York, to meet the requirements for a government-backed loan.

“Based on media reports, Ms. Letitia James has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government-backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms,” read Mr. Pulte’s letter to the Justice Department, which was shared online.

Ms. James also said Mr. Trump has been targeting certain groups of people and political enemies since he took office.

“My office was successful in securing a $450 million judgment against Donald Trump and others for exaggerating the value of his assets,” Ms. James 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.”

Meanwhile, the president has said Ms. James targeted him politically when she prosecuted him, his family and the Trump Organization for business fraud during the 2024 campaign.

The Trumps were found liable for inflating property values to obtain business loans and ordered to pay more than $450 million in fines. Mr. Trump is appealing the ruling.