NY AG Letitia James indicted for bank fraud, false statements tied to Norfolk mortgage
On Oct. 9, 2025 a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on two counts—one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution—alleging she misrepresented a Norfolk, Va., home as a second residence to obtain a favorable mortgage while renting it to a family. The filing, made public alongside reporting that EDVA has been in turmoil following U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert’s departure and other recent prosecutions, drew denials from James and her lawyer Abbe David Lowell, who called the case political retaliation; reporting also notes James’s prior $367 million civil judgment against Donald Trump was reversed and her office has faced subpoenas.
📌 Key Facts
- On Oct. 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment charging New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- The indictment contains two counts: one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution.
- Prosecutors allege James misrepresented a Norfolk, Virginia, property as a second residence to obtain a favorable mortgage while the home was actually rented to a family of three.
- The full EDVA indictment document and related filings were published publicly (reported via CBS/Scribd and PBS/AP).
- James and her attorney, Abbe David Lowell, deny the allegations and call the case political retaliation/weaponization.
- Reports tie the indictment’s timing to recent turmoil in EDVA after U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert left under pressure from President Trump; former FBI director James Comey was indicted last month after Siebert’s resignation.
- Background context: James previously secured a $367 million civil fraud judgment against Donald Trump that was later reversed, and Trump has issued subpoenas to her office this year; media note the charges arise in the broader mortgage‑fraud probe.
📰 Sources (5)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.