New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted by a grand jury in Virginia, according to people familiar with the matter, following calls from President Donald Trump for her to be prosecuted.
The indictment stems from allegations by Trump administration officials that James committed mortgage fraud. She was accused of alleged bank fraud, said one of the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the case.
James denies committing mortgage fraud, and his attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the indictment.
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The Justice Department’s investigation into James arose from accusations by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte that she may have committed mortgage fraud based on residency status reported on loan applications.
Last month, Trump called for legal action against James in a message to Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media. “We can no longer delay, this is killing our reputation and credibility,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “JUSTICE MUST BE DONE, NOW!!!”
The U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia also recently obtained a grand jury indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, whose indictment was also publicly defended by Trump. Comey maintains his innocence and is contesting the charges in court.
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The charges against James — which come on the heels of Comey’s hearing this week — are likely to raise concerns about the Justice Department’s independence and fuel allegations that prosecutors are using the position to punish the president’s political enemies.
Pressure from some in the Trump administration to prosecute James appeared to have cooled until recently. Erik Siebert, who led the U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia, resigned last month under pressure. Siebert had concluded there was insufficient evidence to support charges against James, according to Bloomberg News.
However, Trump named one of his top White House aides, Lindsey Halligan, as acting U.S. attorney. Halligan has since obtained indictments against Comey and James.
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