New York Attorney General Letitia James appears to be lashing out, legally, against President Donald Trump’s administration amid a federal probe involving alleged illegalities involving several of her properties.
“The White House is threatening our way of life in so many ways, and I just want you to know that in the coming days we will be filing a lawsuit against” the Department of Health and Human Services, James told the National Action Network rally in Harlem, the New York Post reported.
James cited examples of anticipated cuts in federal aid to the Head Start program, which helps low-income children ages five and under prepare for school, as well as Meals on Wheels and the World Trade Center Healthcare Program for 9/11 first responders.
“All of these funds and more!” James railed. “We got to stand up, and that’s why Democratic attorneys general will be joining me in filing this lawsuit in the coming days.”
James, who has drawn President Trump’s criticism for leading the civil fraud case against him and the Trump Organization, resulting in a $454 million judgment now under appeal, also criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for focusing on new treatments for measles amid an outbreak, instead of prioritizing vaccination efforts.
She also popped a cruel joke about Kennedy, saying he is “the guy with a worm in his head” — a reference to a 2012 deposition where he claimed a worm ate part of his brain before dying inside his skull.
Last month, James began facing some legal scrutiny herself after the Trump administration referred her for possible federal prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud — ironically, the same thing she prosecuted Trump over.
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, 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.
The alleged incident took place in late August 2023, just weeks before James initiated her civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization for inflating property values.
“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.