
<p>Call it “turn about is fair play”. ; Call it “sweet justice”. ; Even call it “retribution”. ; But whatever you call it, the case of fraud being advanced against New York Attorney General Letitia James is yet another turn of the screw in a political world gone topsy turvy.</p>



<p>As New York’s top law official, James has made no secret of her intentions to bring down President Trump &#8212; and even lock him up, if she could. ; She made that a campaign promise when running for AG. ; She kept that promise in an unrelenting wave of prosecutorial actions against Trump.</p>



<p>James successfully got Trump’s company – including Trump and other family members &#8212; convicted of fraud – for which a judge imposed an extraordinarily high fine of $454 million. ; The case centered on the filing of false documents in conjunction with mortgage financing. That case is currently under appeal.</p>



<p>Now it is James&#8217; turn to be the target of fraud charges – this time dealing with personal real estate transactions and mortgage applications. The irony within an irony is that James allegedly did some of it at the very same time she was running the case against Trump.</p>



<p>The charges against James include falsifying records to obtain favorable loan terms and misrepresenting significant descriptions of the properties. In one instance, she claimed a Virginia property to be her official residence – a fact that would disqualify her from being the Empire State’s attorney general. James also identified a Brooklyn property as four units when it has five units in order to obtain more favorable mortgage terms. She is also accused of listing her father as her husband on documents in 1983 and 2003. </p>



<p>The case was referred to the Department of Justice by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. ; The FHFA started looking into the James issues in 2023. ; FHFA Director William J. Pulte &#8212; who has been in that position since March 14, 2025 – said that the potential charges against James include mail and bank fraud. ; At this juncture, it is not certain whether the DOJ will take up the case and pursue a formal investigation.</p>



<p>If an investigation is pursued, James has a lot to worry about. ; As we have been told many times, getting an indictment is no high hurdle. ; It is often said that prosecutors could indict a ham sandwich. ; And &#8230; federal prosecutors almost always win their cases. ; In fact, the acquittal rate is less than one percent. ; More than 89 percent of those with federal indictments plead guilty &#8212; often as part of a plea agreement.</p>



<p>As can be expected, James and her supporters are claiming the case is purely politically motivated and without merit. ; That puts Democrats in the ironic position of accusing the DOJ of operating politically after they have long criticized Republicans of undermining the justice system with such criticisms. ;</p>



<p>If the DOJ pursues the case, James will see what it is like to be investigated by an agency with unlimited financial and personnel resources. She will be in for a prolonged period of personal distraction as she fights in the federal courts – and in the court of public opinion. Not only will it be time consuming, but it will also be very expensive. She may have to sell off Boardwalk and Park Place, so to speak. If indicted, James could be compelled to resign as attorney general. She would be sidetracked even as her case against Trump is lumbering through the appellate process.</p>



<p>All things considered, I am betting that the DOJ launches an investigation.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

NY Attorney General James getting a dose of her own medicine
