James is also accused of understating the number of units in her Clinton Hill brownstone. She listed it as a four-unit property on various forms, when a 2001 certificate of occupancy lists it as a five-unit property.
In both cases, James’ statements are untrue. It is suggested that it helped her receive lower interest rates on her property loans, which is allegedly fraudulent.
For both properties, James appears to have falsified records to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms.
Key similarities in Letitia James and Donald Trump cases
- Accusations of Misrepresentation
- Trump was accused of inflating asset values to obtain favorable loan terms.
- James is alleged to have falsely claimed a home in Virginia as her primary residence to secure a better mortgage rate.
- Claims of Political Motivation
- Trump’s legal team consistently argued that James’ case against him was politically motivated.
- Legal experts now say Trump’s referral against James appears retaliatory and politically charged.
- Legal Novelty and Weakness
- James’ case against Trump was labeled a “manipulation of the legal system” by Debbas.
- He described the case against James as “not criminal” and unlikely to have surfaced absent her prior litigation against Trump.
“This is the president’s way of seeking retaliation against the attorney general,” Debbas said. “It’s not something that would have been brought upon had the attorney general not pursued a similar case with low merit against the president.”
Understanding the Allegations Against Letitia James
At the center of the new investigation is James’ 2023 purchase of a Norfolk, Virginia home.
