New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted on Federal Bank Fraud Charges

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been formally indicted on federal charges by a grand jury.

James, who spearheaded the 2023 civil fraud case against Donald Trump, faces allegations of bank fraud in the Eastern District of Virginia. According to court filings, she is accused of defrauding a financial institution and providing false information on a mortgage application for a property in Norfolk, Virginia.

In response, James claimed the charges were politically motivated, accusing the president of using the justice system as a tool of retaliation. “He is pressuring federal law enforcement to act on his behalf simply because I fulfilled my duty as New York’s attorney general,” she stated. “These accusations are unfounded, and his public comments reveal a clear intent for political revenge.”

Federal prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, who was appointed by Trump to lead the case after Erik Siebert’s resignation, asserted that “no one is above the law.” She emphasized that the charges reflect “serious criminal conduct and significant breaches of public trust.”

James is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on October 24 in Norfolk. Prosecutors claim she purchased a three-bedroom home using a mortgage intended for a secondary residence, which barred shared ownership or timesharing. However, the indictment alleges the home was never used as her secondary residence and was instead rented out, allowing her to secure more favorable loan terms than she would have for an investment property.

If convicted, James could face up to 30 years in prison per charge and fines of up to $1 million each. Her attorney, Abbe Lowell, criticized the prosecution as politically driven, echoing concerns about Trump’s influence.

The indictment follows Trump’s recent social media call urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute his political rivals, including James. He also named former FBI Director James Comey, who was later charged with making false statements to Congress, and other figures such as John Bolton and Adam Schiff.

James previously led the civil fraud case that held Trump liable for falsifying financial records to secure better loan terms. Although the $500 million penalty was later overturned as excessive, the court upheld the fraud finding.

Governor Kathy Hochul described the indictment as “a weaponization of the Justice Department to target those who challenge the powerful.”