Many conservatives welcomed the news that New York Attorney General Letitia James could soon face legal scrutiny herself, after the Trump administration referred her for possible federal prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud.
Critics were quick to highlight James’ own widely quoted remark that “no one is above the law,” following Tuesday’s revelation that she had been criminally referred for allegedly misrepresenting financial information to obtain favorable property loans.
James originally invoked the phrase during her high-profile civil fraud case against the Trump Organization, which resulted in a $454 million judgment over inflated property valuations.
Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators were quick to boast that “karma” was coming for the AG — gloating that “the tables have now turned.”
“No one is above the law!” US Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wrote on X.
No one is above the law! https://t.co/elH9ZtcuiF
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) April 16, 2025
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) added: “Letitia James engaged in some of the most shameful, partisan lawfare against President Trump — based on far less evidence than this.”
“These allegations must be investigated thoroughly,” Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) noted as well. And Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) ridiculed the AG’s prior remarks, writing: “Something, something… no one is above the law.”
Outkick founder Clay Travis also chimed in, writing on X: “New York AG Letitia James being prosecuted for lying about her assets to get a mortgage after prosecuting Trump for lying about his assets to get a bank loan would be too perfect. They always accuse you of what they actually did.”
Fox News host Laura Ingraham discussed the allegations during a show segment earlier this week.
BREAKING: A criminal referral has been sent to the Department of Justice, accusing New York AG Letitia James of mortgage fraud.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 15, 2025
How the tables have turned…
Fox News is now reporting that the Federal Housing Finance Agency has sent a criminal referral to Attorney General Pam… pic.twitter.com/7KHpkoOGpk
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche this week, alleging that James “falsified records” to secure home loans for a Virginia property she listed as her “principal residence” in 2023—while she was still serving as a New York state prosecutor.
This incident took place in late August 2023, just weeks before James initiated her civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization for inflating property values—a trial that ended with a $454 million judgment.
“Ms. James was the sitting Attorney General of New York and is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York — even though her mortgage applications list her intent to have the Norfolk, VA, property as her primary home,” the letter stated.
“It appears Ms. James’ property and mortgage-related misrepresentations may have continued to her recent 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase in order to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable loan terms.”
In February 2001, James also bought a five-family dwelling in Brooklyn — but has “consistently misrepresented the same property as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications,” the letter noted.
Pulte also attached several documents revealing that James purchased another property with her father as a co-signer, even though the records inaccurately identified them as “husband and wife” in 1983 and 2000.
“While this was a long time ago, it raises serious concerns about the validity of Ms. James’ representations on mortgage applications,” he wrote.
The letter cited earlier media reports alleging that James falsely represented her residence status in Virginia to obtain a lower mortgage rate and mischaracterized her five-unit Brooklyn property, claims that were first reported by White Collar Fraud.
According to Pulte, listing the Brooklyn property as a four-unit residence could have reduced her mortgage interest rate by as much as 1% and resulted in lower monthly payments under the federal Home Affordable Modification Program.
“Ms. James, for both properties listed above, appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms,” he told Bondi and Blanche.
