Below is my column in the New York Post on the criminal referral of a mortgage fraud case against New York Attorney General Letitia James. After her scorched-earth campaign against Trump, the irony of the allegations is stunning. If James were to move from prosecutor to perp, her own words may come back to haunt her. There could be statute of limitations issues, though James herself showed such such statutory periods can be stretched. James has issued a statement of defiance and suggests that this is lawfare or bullying by the Trump Administration.
Here is the column:
“No matter how big, rich or powerful you think you are, no one is above the law.”
Those words by New York state Attorney General Letitia James echoed throughout the media, lionizing her after her office secured a judgment against Donald Trump for false business practices, including misrepresentations on loan documents.
They may echo even louder this week as James finds herself the subject of a criminal referral for committing alleged financial fraud to secure her own property loans.
On April 14, William J. Pulte, Director of US Federal Housing (FHFA), sent a referral letter to the Justice Department detailing alleged false statements made in filings by James to secure housing loans.
For an attorney general who just prosecuted Trump for everything short of ripping a label off a mattress, the irony is crushing.
The alleged false statements are particularly damning for someone who insisted that she had zero tolerance for such irregularities or errors in financial filings.
Indeed, the greatest danger is that the Letitia James standard could be applied to Letitia James in guaranteeing that “no one is above the law.”
The allegations against James run from the demonstrably false to the downright bizarre.
In securing a loan for a home in Norfolk, Va., James is accused of claiming through her representative that the property would be her principal residence.
As the referral notes, primary residences receive more advantageous rates.
However, as “the sitting New York Attorney General of New York [James] is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York.”
Notably, the Justice Department has prosecuted those who have committed this common fraud.
For example, in 2017, it charged a man in Puerto Rico with false statements on a reverse mortgage loan application in which he falsely claimed the property as his principal residence.
It emphasized that “mortgage lenders provide capital so people can purchase homes, not enrich themselves illegally.”
There are other such cases under 18 U.S.C. 1014 and related laws.
James could claim that these representations were made by a third party acting on her behalf.
However, that is precisely the argument that she repeatedly rejected in the Trump case, insisting that he was legally obligated to review all filings made in his name or that of his companies.
James is also accused of misrepresenting a five-unit property in Brooklyn as a four-unit property “to receive better interest rates … and to receive mortgage assistance through [the Home Affordable Modification Program].”
The referral also includes a claim that James filed papers that listed herself and her father as a married couple.
The referral notes that just last year, Baltimore’s State Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, was convicted by the Biden administration of filing a false mortgage application.
Another case resulted in a guilty plea last week for fraudulent filings in a home loan.
The timing for James could not be worse.
The Trump civil case has languished on appeal for months with a long overdue opinion.
The appellate argument did not go well for James in the case that resulted in a grotesque half-billion-dollar fine in a case where no one lost a dime.
James accused Trump of inflating property value in filings, a common practice in the real estate field.
It did not matter that the company warned banks to do their own evaluations.
It did not matter that bank officials testified that they made money on the deal. Indeed, the “victim” wanted more business from Trump.
None of that matters.
James not only demanded an even greater fine but wanted to foreclose on Trump properties after Trump was told to secure a ridiculous $455 million bond to simply secure appellate review.
Throughout that case, James repeated her mantra that there would be no exceptions for the rich and powerful.
She insisted that accuracy on such financial records is essential and must be rigorously enforced.
Many of us objected that James was selectively targeting Trump after she ran for office on the pledge to nail him on some unspecified offense.
James insisted that this was not lawfare and that she would prosecute anyone guilty of false or misleading statements on financial filings. She is now allegedly that person.
It is not clear what James’ defense will be to these allegations.
However, she may cite the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Thompson v. United States, which ruled in March that 18 U.S.C. § 1014 does not criminalize statements that are merely misleading but are not false.
The problem is that, if proven, these statements are not misleading.
They are false.
Either this was James’ principal residence, or it was not.
Either this was a four-unit property, or it was not.
The allegation is that these statements coincided with loan conditions that would give James a financial advantage.
James has one likely advantage.
She is unlikely to be prosecuted by New York prosecutors using the ridiculous law weaponized against Trump.
She emphasized that Trump did not have to produce a single penny of loss for a victim to be hit with half a billion dollars in fines.
But that was Trump and this is New York.
There will be no mob or media frenzy demanding charges.
There will certainly be no James explaining how such prosecutions are essential “because no matter how big, rich, or powerful you think you are, no one is above the law.”
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
Why is it that Democrats never see the consequences of their actions down the road? Are they that ignorant?
Talking about being hoisted by your own petard!
Great column. The irony in this case against James is beyond unbelievable!
The most comical statement from her is that she is claiming Trump is using “Lawfare” against her… SMH… Unreal.
Payback is a witch! With a B!
As Fantastic & Accurate as Prof. Turley’s Analysis is.. it hurts to read about the sheer EVIL of this woman and her lot.. I found myself wincing at all the Negative Energy bouncing off the screen just from the focus on her… not only did she use the Spanish Inquisition playbook against Trump to a ‘T,’ ,but from what we have read over and over, they all profitted handsomely from they money flowing into their warchests form the secretsoros catacombs..The amazing thing is that Trump left all of these progressive EVIL DEMS alone in his first term, and as soon as his last day was over.. the lawfare assaults began, like clockwork.. like the well oiled radical Left judge network to-day, a new one popping up every time Trump signs an EO… passing the puck around so effortlessly… It’s hard to ‘turn-the-other-cheek’ with all of these folks because their assauts go way beyond a man named Trump.. they are truly the enemies of all The Good the USA stands for, esp. in our System of Justice…
..the above beginning with ‘As Fantastic and Accurate as Prof. Turley’s analysis is..’ is NOT from any ANONYMOUS, but from ‘Eighteenthhole’ ..something must have happened to my logon… Thank You.
Just watching professor Turley on TV. He looks great!
Looks great and sounds great.
It looks like her family tree is a telephone pole. Did anybody see a color purple?
No, but I do distinctly hear banjos in the reeds
– rabble
Crushing…and very delicious. I hope it has legs.
Turley– “It is not clear what James’ defense will be to these allegations.”
Is she on the internet searching for countries with no extradition to the US?
Yes Leticia James, FAFO is actually a thing.
New York Attorney General Letitia James achieves the trifecta of infamy: Democrat, demagogue and a fraud
Michael Avenatti is getting a bunkmate. She looks like a guy to me.
She looks like Shrek. And she is counting on being part of the “different people.”
Dems are the “different people” – nothing applies to them because they are “different” and – they are for the children.
It’s a free pass for them.
The “different people”.
Bubba!
Letitia ‘No One Is Above The Law’ James Accused Of Doing Exactly What She Prosecuted Trump For
Like James repeatedly stated during her witch-hunt against Trump, “Nobody is above the law.”
After spending months theatrically chasing President Donald Trump over allegedly inflating property values to secure favorable loan terms (with no actual victims, mind you), James now finds herself the target of a federal criminal referral for — wait for it — allegedly misrepresenting property details to secure favorable loan terms.
In February 2024, James celebrated the $450 million penalty against President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization in a civil fraud case in which there were no victims.
By: Brianna Lyman ~ April 16, 2025
https://thefederalist.com/2025/04/16/letitia-no-one-is-above-the-law-james-accused-of-doing-exactly-what-she-prosecuted-trump-for/
And what then of Letitia James co-accomplice New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron [?]
Court names new judge in Trump civil fraud case before reassigning previous judge hours later
Judge Arthur Engoron, accused of bias by Trump’s legal team, had presided over the case
By: Brooke Singman Fox News ~ January 9, 2025
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-court-assigns-new-judge-trump-civil-fraud-case-stemming-from-ag-letitia-james-probe
Even the Bee would struggle to write articles so insane
Look who’s calling the kettle black!
No one is above the law.
Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 31, 2024
No one is above the law.
Nancy Pelosi
No one is above the law.
Adam Schiff
No one is above the law.
Queen Shiela Jackson Lee – RIP
No one is above the law.
Elizabeth Warren
No one is above the law.
Jerry Nadler
No matter how big, rich or powerful you think you are, no one is above the law.
New York state Attorney General Letitia James
There are thousands of citizens who are applauding today that the long arm of the law has reached out and is about to ‘drag’
AG James into court and make her explain her lying ways to the country — additionally, every person and entity that contributes to her defense should be kept a record of —
Vengeance is sweet when it’s this clear cut —-
T
She stands no chances before federal jury in VA. Déjà vu
I don’t take pleasure in the misfortune of others, but is there any example of someone like this on the modern left not being guilty of whatever they are accusing another of? It’s getting absurd. The DNC more and more resembles an organized crime organization, no wonder they love gang members. Would not be at all surprised if some on the left profit mightily from them.
Trump should wait until she’s indicted and then he should pardon her. This will explode every liberal’s head. Putting James in the clink serves litle purpose and she would have to admit her guilt to accept a [pardon. That would show our liberal pals what an ethical person does versus what an unethical person has done. Actions speak louder than words and people will remember those actions more than the words of either party, now or in the future.
Nonsense. There’s nothing ethical about letting someone get away with fraud. She should get a fine for a federal felony of $10k or $100k in exchange for her resignation from office, kind of like Spiro Agnew.
No do not wait for indictment. Pull a Biden and pardon her now
Oh, if only hochul had the power to forgive federal crimes…
You are forgetting that she tried and is still trying to put our duly elected POTUS in jail. And his family, friends, business associates. This must not go unpunished with the same attitude that the GOP has displayed for years.
No one is above the law, unless you are a liberal woman of color.
or a 17 year old black punk thug who stabs young men to die in their twin brother’s arms. And don’t forget all those illegal gang members, we must weep for them too.
I find it indicative of the progressive mind to vilify and obliterate Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben (true examples of capitalism, fortitude and ability) and then raise up the likes of crockett, james and katanji etc. It truly illustrates the use of of blacks as tools in their ideology.
Indeed.
“If you’re one of those leftists who live to be offended on behalf of other people, people who usually aren’t really offended themselves, there is no help for you. You’re the problem in society, not the people with the real problems. They can get help, you are beyond it. You live to be offended by proxy. You cheered when the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins changed their names at the demand of your Oprah Book Club group. You’re pressuring your school board to hire a “Diversity Officer” while the kids in the schools can’t read or do basic math. And you’re screaming at bare-faced people outside through three masks on your way to get your tramp stamp of Tony Fauci touched up at your local vegan tattoo parlor.” –Derek Hunter