Letitia James accuses Trump of ‘desperate weaponization’ of DOJ over mortgage fraud indictment

ALBANY, NEW YORK: New York Attorney General Letitia James has criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of desperately weaponizing the Department of Justice, after an indictment accusing her of mortgage fraud.

James, who had been a long-time critic of Trump, filed a lawsuit against him in 2023 for business fraud.

Letitia James' statement against Trump

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “This is nothing more than a continuation of the president's desperate weaponization of our justice system”. 

“I am not fearful - I am fearless,” she said. "We will fight these baseless charges aggressively and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights,” she vowed in the caption of her video statement. 

In the video, James accused the president of misusing federal law agencies, who are acting on his behalf, claiming that it was because she was doing her job as the New York State Attorney General.

“These charges are baseless and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost,” she continued.

The attorney general urged the leaders from both political spheres to act against what she called the clear misuse of the justice system.

James has already gained the support of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who wrote, “New Yorkers know @NewYorkStateAG James for her integrity, her independence and her relentless fight for justice. What we're seeing today is nothing less than the weaponization of the Justice Department to punish those who hold the powerful accountable.”

Details of the indictment against Letitia James

James, who became the attorney general in 2019 after campaigning on a pledge to investigate Trump, was indicted on October 9 in Virginia on one count each of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

She has been under investigation for mortgage fraud since May over documents she filed to take out a mortgage to help her niece buy a home in Virginia. 

According to the investigators, James falsified information on loan documents for a property she owns in Virginia to secure favorable loans.

The indictment obtained by The Daily Mail states that she signed a “Second Home Rider, which required James, as the sole borrower, to occupy and use the property as her secondary residence.

This prohibits its use as a timesharing or other shared ownership agreement or agreement that requires her to rent the property or give any other person control over the occupancy or use of the property.

Despite these representations, the Peronne Property was not occupied by James as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property, renting the property to a family of three,” it read.

Allegations and possible penalties against Letitia James

In making the 'misrepresentation,' the prosecutors allege James avoided a 0.815 percent higher mortgage rate, resulting in approximately $17,837 in savings over the course of the loan. James also obtained a seller credit of approximately $3,288.

James now faces penalties including up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count, and forfeiture of her properties.