Trump admin goes after N.Y. AG who won civil fraud trial against president
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
New York Attorney General Letitia James in New York City earlier this year. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
New York Attorney General Letitia James is accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing the government after a federal agency referred her for potential criminal prosecution for alleged mortgage fraud.
Why it matters: It's the latest example of the administration following through on President Trump's pledges to seek retribution against his political enemies.
- Trump has already stripped security clearances from James, who is not facing any charges in relation to the criminal referral, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who secured a historic conviction in the president's hush money case.
State of play: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) director William Pulte wrote a criminal referral relating to James to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche.
- He alleges that James "falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms," per the letter seen by Axios and first reported by the New York Post on Tuesday evening, which cites media reports.
- Trump shared one of those reports in a Monday Truth Social post with the comment: "Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY. Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office."
Flashback: James successfully brought a $464 million civil fraud case against Trump, his companies and fellow defendants over the president's business practices.
- Trump is appealing the decision.
What they're saying: "Attorney General James is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers, especially as this Administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution," said a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General in an emailed statement on Tuesday night.
- "She will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are."
The latest: James' attorney, Abbe David Lowell, called the alleged criminal referral "improper political retribution" in a letter dated April 24 to Bondi.
- "This so-called 'Criminal Referral,' which recycles long-disproven allegations and is '[b]ased on media reports' lacks any credible foundation," James' attorney said in the letter.
A representative for the White House referred Axios to the FHFA and the Justice Department for comment.
The DOJ referred Axios to comments Bondi made in an interview with Fox News Wednesday morning. She said she had just learned of Pulte's referral.
- "No one in my office has read it yet," she said. "We haven't looked at it. Of course, we'll be reviewing it."
- An FHFA official confirmed the veracity of the letter seen by Axios, but did not provide further comment.
Go deeper: Trump's overflowing grudge list
Editor's note: This story was updated with a response from the DOJ, comments from Bondi and a letter to Bondi from James' legal team.
