NORFOLK, Va. — Attorney General Letitia James Pleads Not Guilty
New York Attorney General Letitia James entered a not guilty plea on Friday regarding two federal charges linked to her 2020 property purchase in Virginia.
The charges stem from a grand jury indictment on October 9th, which includes one count of bank fraud and another for providing false statements to a financial institution.
James, who is 67 years old, bought a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home on Peronne Avenue in Norfolk on August 17, 2020. The purchase was financed through a loan of $109,600, with her identified as the “sole borrower to occupy and use the property.”
However, prosecutors claim that James actually did not occupy the house. Instead, it was allegedly used as a rental property for her grandmother, Nakia Thompson, which allowed James to secure more favorable mortgage terms, resulting in benefits of nearly $19,000.
In New York state ethics filings, James referred to the property as an “investment” and indicated that she had received between $1,000 and $5,000 in rental income since 2020.
Additionally, she began listing her home as an asset in May, following allegations made by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pruitt, who filed complaints with the Justice Department concerning false statements made during her efforts to buy another home in the Norfolk area in 2023.
Local residents on the same street as the Norfolk property told the Post last week that they had never noticed any unexpected visits from state agencies related to the case.
After the indictment, James characterized the charges as “baseless.” She asserted that this is merely a continuation of the “desperate weaponization of our justice system” by the president, claiming he is using federal law enforcement to pursue her for fulfilling her responsibilities as the Attorney General of New York.
Last year, James secured a civil judgment against the Trump Organization for allegedly exaggerating the value of its real estate holdings. The ruling resulted in a $355 million fine, but the president appealed and successfully had the penalties lifted in August.
James’ office is appealing this judgment, which has increased to over $500 million, including interest.
This is an ongoing story; please check back for updates.
