NY State Lawyer Common Letitia James has employed protection legal professional Abbe Lowell to signify her amid mortgage fraud allegations concerning her Brooklyn and Virginia properties – allegations that have been referred to the Justice Division for legal evaluation.
James helped her niece purchase a home in Virginia again in 2023 by turning into a co-borrower on the mortgage mortgage. U.S. Federal Housing Finance Company Director William Pulte seized on a doc in that transaction to push a federal investigation.
In a letter to Lawyer Common Pam Bondi earlier this month, Pulte cited “media reports” claiming James had falsely listed a house in Virginia as her principal residence, which he hypothesized was an effort to keep away from the upper rates of interest individuals typically pay for mortgages on second properties.
In his letter to Bondi, Lowell known as the referral to DOJ the “latest act of improper political retribution – this time directed at Ms. James – publicly instigated and endorsed by President Trump.”
Lowell calls the mortgage fraud allegations in opposition to James “long disproven allegations.”
Lowell’s six-page letter with 26 pages of attachments quotes Trump’s previous statements, like calling the AG “Peekaboo James” and “Corrupt, Racist Latitia James’s unlawful witchhunt.”
Lowell additionally pointed in his letter how Bondi throughout her affirmation listening to promised to be impartial. “Your assurances give us confidence that you will not allow anyone to politicized your Department.”
In response to the allegations raised by federal housing director William Pulte, Lowell writes the home in Virginia was for James’ nieces Shamice Thompson-Hairston who wanted monetary backing.
The mortgage utility solely wanted one particular person to reside on the residence, Lowell wrote. He mentioned {that a} field checked saying James could be claiming the home as her major residence was a mistake. She had written the mortgage mortgage dealer that the property “WILL NOT be my primary residence. It will be Shamice’s primary residence.”
As for the Brooklyn property, James was making an attempt to help her sick mom on the time and to present different members of the family a spot to reside, Lowell wrote. He wrote since James has owned the property the four-story constructing has functioned as a four-person residence for the final 24 years.
James at the moment occupies flooring 1 and a pair of, a buddy has ground 3 and James brother has ground 4. There is no such thing as a residence within the basement, Lowell added. He says NYC Dept of Finance and HPD data verify this, and he accused Pulte of ”cherry-picking” previous buildings data to make a legal referral alleging mortgage fraud.
