New York Lawyer Common Letitia James has been indicted on a minimum of one rely of alleged fraud, turning into the second political determine in a span of two weeks to face prosecution after President Donald Trump’s public demand that the Justice Division transfer “now” to cost his political enemies, in response to sources.
The contents of the indictment have been nonetheless not unsealed as of Thursday late afternoon.
U.S. Lawyer for the Japanese District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan introduced proof to a federal grand jury Thursday searching for an indictment on fees of mortgage fraud in opposition to James, sources accustomed to the matter instructed ABC Information.
A spokesperson for James’ authorized workforce declined to remark to ABC Information.
Halligan was named U.S. legal professional by Trump after Trump ousted her predecessor, Erik Siebert, who sources say had expressed doubts internally about bringing instances in opposition to James and former FBI Director James Comey.
As ABC Information first reported, sources mentioned Siebert and different profession prosecutors in Virginia decided there was no clear proof James had knowingly dedicated mortgage fraud when she bought a house within the state in 2023, however Trump officers nonetheless pushed Siebert to carry prison fees in opposition to her.
“It appears to me like [James] may be very responsible of one thing, however I actually do not know,” Trump mentioned to reporters within the Oval Workplace in September when he confirmed he needed Siebert “out” of the job.
Letitia James attends the Deliberate Parenthood of Larger New York Spring into Motion gala at Cipriani South Avenue, April 24, 2025, in New York.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
James, as New York AG, efficiently introduced a civil fraud case in opposition to Trump final yr and leads a number of lawsuits difficult his administration’s insurance policies.
Trump administration officers have argued that James dedicated mortgage fraud as a result of one of many paperwork associated to her 2023 house buy, they are saying, falsely indicated the property could be her major residence. The investigation started after Invoice Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Company, despatched the DOJ a prison referral about James in April.
Nonetheless, investigators decided that the doc — a restricted energy of legal professional type utilized by James’ niece to signal paperwork on her behalf when James closed on the house — was by no means thought of by the mortgage officers who accredited the mortgage, sources mentioned.
Halligan final month introduced an indictment against Comey on fees of constructing a false assertion and obstruction associated to his testimony earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, simply days after Trump issued a public demand for his Justice Division to behave “now” to carry prosecutions in opposition to Comey, James, and California Sen. Adam Schiff.
“Nothing is being completed. What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, and Leticia???” Trump wrote in a social media publish immediately addressing Lawyer Common Pam Bondi. “We won’t delay any longer, it is killing our popularity and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 occasions!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday and can search to have his case dismissed for vindictive prosecution.
