Reports indicate that the FBI has officially opened a formal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. It was also announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albany has also joined in on the criminal investigation.
According to a source close to the matter, both offices are looking into the real estate and mortgage transactions of the AG. It is currently unclear why Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte decided to refer the lawsuit to New York’s Northern District. However, it could be because James is a statewide elected official with offices in Albany.
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The allegations further detailed that James indicated the Virginia home would be her “principal residence,” while she carried out her duties as NYC’s top cop. It was also implied that James lied about the number of units in her Brooklyn residence.
Not surprisingly, James slammed the allegations a “baseless.” However, last month her office hired well-known criminal defense attorney Abbe Lowell to represent her in the matter.
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“The stunning hypocrisy of President Trump’s complaint that the Justice Department had been ‘politicized’ and ‘weaponized’ against him is laid bare as he and others in his administration are now asking you to undertake the very same practice,” Lowell wrote to Bondi. “This so-called ‘criminal referral,’ which recycles long-disproven allegations and is ‘(b)ased on media reports’ lacks any credible foundation.”
It is currently unclear what Pulte meant by long-disproven allegations.” The attorney also noted that the mortgage rates for primary residences tend to be lower than those for secondary residences.
“Primary residence mortgages receive more favorable loan terms, including lower interest rates, than secondary residence mortgages,” he said in the letter. “Lenders view secondary residence mortgages as significantly riskier, as a borrower is more likely to continue paying off a primary residence mortgage during any financial hardship.”
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It has been suggested that the former president’s bond pledgers may not have sufficient funds to cover his bond. Eric Lisann, a former federal state prosecutor, has indicated that Knight Specialty Insurance (KSI) might struggle to post a $175 million bond for Donald Trump while he appeals his fraud judgment
* Original Article:
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/breaking-fbi-opens-formal-investigation-1139792.amp
