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New York State Attorney General Letitia James has hired prominent defense attorney Abbe Lowell to defend her against mortgage fraud allegations made by the Trump administration. The allegations focus on two properties, one in Brooklyn and the other in Virginia. According to NBC New York, the Federal Housing Finance Agency accused James of falsifying records to secure favorable home loans for a Virginia property she claimed was her principal residence in 2023, despite legal requirements for her primary residence to be in New York.
The allegations were referred to the Justice Department for criminal review. However, Lowell, who has represented high-profile clients like Hunter Biden, argues that the claims are politically motivated and have been "long disproven." He stated that the accusations are part of a pattern of political retribution by the Trump administration against James, who has previously won a $454 million judgment against President Trump for business fraud.
Lowell's defense includes evidence that James did not intend to use the Virginia property as her primary residence. He cited an email where James clarified to her mortgage broker that the property would be her niece's primary residence. The Intelligencer reported that Lowell called the referral to the DOJ an act of "improper political retribution."
The case has drawn significant attention, with some viewing it as part of a broader political battle between James and the Trump administration. James has denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations baseless and politically motivated. The legal proceedings are expected to unfold in the coming months, potentially impacting James's political career and her upcoming re-election campaign.