NY AG Letitia James indicted for bank fraud, false statements tied to Norfolk mortgage
New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted by an Eastern District of Virginia grand jury on Oct. 9, 2025 on two counts — bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution — accused of misrepresenting a Norfolk, Va., home as a second residence to obtain a $109,600 mortgage in 2020 while renting the property, and is due to appear in Norfolk federal court on Oct. 24. The case, presented to the grand jury by U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan and carrying potential penalties up to 30 years and $1 million per count, comes amid upheaval in EDVA after the ouster of former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert and a recent indictment of James’ critic James Comey; James and her attorney have denied wrongdoing and called the indictment political retribution.
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📌 Key Facts
- A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned a five‑page indictment on Oct. 9, 2025 charging New York Attorney General Letitia James with two counts: bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
- Prosecutors allege that in 2020 James obtained a $109,600 mortgage on a Norfolk, Va., home by misrepresenting it as a second residence to secure more favorable terms while the property was rented to a family; they say the arrangement would have saved her nearly $19,000 over the life of the loan.
- U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan personally presented the case to the grand jury; she said “No one is above the law” and noted the charges carry potential penalties of up to 30 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines per count, plus possible forfeiture.
- James and her lawyer Abbe David Lowell deny criminal wrongdoing, calling the indictment political retribution or “weaponization;” James has said she made an error on a form and corrected it.
- The indictment comes amid turmoil at EDVA: career prosecutors and former EDVA U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert reportedly believed the evidence was insufficient before Siebert’s ouster, and the charges follow closely (about two weeks) after an EDVA indictment of former FBI Director James Comey—circumstances critics say raise politicization concerns.
- Legal experts cited in reporting question the prosecution’s viability, pointing to the relatively small dollar amount involved and hurdles in proving criminal intent to defraud a lender.
- Letitia James’ initial federal court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 24, 2025 in Norfolk before Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller.
- News organizations published the full EDVA indictment (via sources such as CBS/Scribd and PBS/AP), and the Justice Department scheduled public briefings (including one featuring former AG Pam Bondi on Oct. 10).
- Political reactions were sharply divided: some Republicans (including Rep. Elise Stefanik and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene) highlighted the charges or alleged hypocrisy, while prominent Democrats (including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Jerry Nadler and Gov. Kathy Hochul) condemned the indictment as politically motivated; New York leaders and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani publicly defended James.
📰 Sources (11)
Mamdani assails Trump for 'political retribution' against Letitia James in sweeping defense of embattled AG
New information:
- NYC Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani publicly defended AG Letitia James at a Friday press conference, calling the indictment 'a shameless act of political retribution' by the Trump administration.
- Mamdani said he spoke with James after the indictment and quoted her as saying, 'Don't worry about me,' asserting she is confident in her legal team and in winning the case.
- The event was framed as New York leaders 'speaking with one voice' in defense of James following the Virginia grand jury charges.
Letitia James' own words come back to haunt her after federal bank fraud charges filed
New information:
- Initial appearance will be before Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller in Norfolk on Oct. 24.
- U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan said 'No one is above the law' and reiterated potential penalties (up to 30 years and $1 million fine per count).
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the indictment 'tyranny' and accused the DOJ of being used as a 'personal attack dog.'
- Rep. Elise Stefanik highlighted James' February 2024 post about not lying to banks, calling out 'hypocrisy.'
- James has publicly said she made an error on a form and corrected it, denying intent to deceive the lender.
WATCH LIVE: Bondi holds news briefing amid criticism she is prosecuting Trump’s enemies
New information:
- Attorney General Pam Bondi scheduled a DOJ news briefing at 11:30 a.m. ET on Oct. 10.
- Lindsey Halligan personally presented the James case to the grand jury (per AP sourcing).
- Letitia James’ initial appearance is scheduled in Norfolk federal court on Oct. 24, 2025.
- Extended quotes from James and from her attorney Abbe Lowell disputing the charges and alleging political retribution.
- Context that the James indictment comes two weeks after the Comey indictment and followed Siebert’s ouster, with Halligan also presenting the Comey case.
Trump Got His Fraud Case Against Letitia James. Winning It Is a Different Question.
New information:
- Loan specifics: indictment centers on a $109,600 mortgage obtained in 2020 for a Norfolk, Va., home.
- Prosecutors allege James secured more favorable terms and stood to save nearly $19,000 over the life of the loan.
- Indictment length noted as five pages; alleges misrepresentation of 'second residence' intent while renting the property.
- New on-the-record statement from U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan calling the acts 'tremendous breaches of the public’s trust.'
- Legal experts (Gene Rossi, Jacqueline Kelly, Rizwan Qureshi) question viability based on small dollar figure and intent-to-defraud hurdles.
- Internal DOJ context: people familiar say career prosecutors and former EDVA U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert believed evidence was insufficient before Siebert’s ouster; Halligan presented the case.
Israel and Hamas prepare for hostage exchange. And, the DOJ indicts Letitia James
New information:
- NPR emphasizes the EDVA grand jury handled the case, noting parallels to James Comey’s recent EDVA indictment.
- Reports that the top EDVA prosecutor was pushed out after earlier internal findings said evidence was too weak to charge, with indictments following Trump’s public calls, raising concerns about politicization.
- James asserts she is being targeted for doing her job as New York attorney general.
New York AG Letitia James' indictment sparks sharp partisan divide
New information:
- EDVA U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan stated on the record that the charges carry up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count, and potential forfeiture.
- Halligan’s quote: “No one is above the law… intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust.”
- Letitia James’ response labeling the case “political retribution” was reiterated with a new on‑the‑record statement.
- New partisan reaction roundup: support from Republicans Elise Stefanik and Marjorie Taylor Greene; denunciations from Democrats Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, and Gov. Kathy Hochul; NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani called James a “champion for justice.”
Read the full Letitia James indictment
New information:
- Identifies the exact charges: one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution.
- Details the alleged scheme: misrepresenting a Norfolk, Va. home as a second residence to obtain a favorable mortgage, while renting it to a family of three.
- Publishes the full indictment document (via CBS/Scribd).
- Includes a detailed denial from James’ attorney Abbe David Lowell, who alleges political retaliation.
Read the Trump administration’s full indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James
New information:
- PBS/AP published the full EDVA indictment document for public review.
- Includes Letitia James’ on‑the‑record statement calling the case 'weaponization' and denying wrongdoing.
- Article reiterates the charges (bank fraud and false statements) and notes the mortgage‑fraud probe context.
Read: N.Y. AG Letitia James' indicted on 2 charges
New information:
- Axios report specifies the indictment contains two charges.
- Confirms the action was taken by a federal grand jury tied to EDVA on Oct. 9, 2025.
New York AG Letitia James indicted for alleged fraud
New information:
- Axios ties the indictment’s timing to turmoil in the Eastern District of Virginia, noting U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert left under pressure from President Trump after not bringing charges against James and Comey.
- Adds context that Comey was indicted last month after Siebert’s resignation.
- Notes James previously won a $367 million civil fraud judgment against Trump that was later reversed, and that Trump issued subpoenas to her office this year.