DOJ Reviews Allegations Against Letitia James Amid Claims of Hypocrisy in Trump Prosecution
- 17GEN4
- 57 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Washington, D.C. – April 26, 2025 – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James, raising questions about the integrity of her past legal actions, including her high-profile civil fraud lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. The allegations, referred to the DOJ by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), claim James misrepresented her primary residence on a loan application, an accusation that echoes the charges she leveled against Trump in a case critics have called politically motivated.
The referral, first reported by Newsweek on April 16, 2025, stems from claims that James listed a property in Norfolk, Virginia, as her primary residence, despite serving as New York’s Attorney General, a role that requires New York residency. Bondi, speaking on Fox News, confirmed the DOJ’s review, stating, “No one in my office has read it yet. Of course, we’ll be reviewing it.” She emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to impartiality, noting, “Nobody is above the law,” a phrase that has drawn attention given James’ own use of it during her prosecution of Trump.
James, who filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and the Trump Organization in October 2023, accused the former president of inflating asset values to secure favorable loan terms. The case, overseen by New York Judge Juan Merchan, resulted in a $454 million penalty against Trump, though critics, including some legal scholars, argued the charges were speculative and lacked evidence of actual harm to lenders. Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, highlighted the irony in a post on X, stating, “James prosecuted Trump for misleading financial statements, yet now faces similar questions about residency claims and loan applications.”
The allegations against James have fueled claims of hypocrisy, with some X users asserting that her prosecution of Trump was unlawful if her residency claims are proven false, as New York law requires public officials to reside in the state. One post claimed, “If her residence is in a different state, her job is vacated… which means her prosecution of Trump was unlawful.” However, these claims remain speculative, as no formal charges have been filed, and the DOJ’s review is in its early stages.
James has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless” and framing them as part of a “revenge tour” by the Trump administration. In a statement posted on X on April 17, 2025, she said, “The allegations are nothing more than a revenge tour,” reiterating her commitment to upholding the law. Her office has not commented further, and the DOJ has declined to provide a timeline for its review.
The controversy comes amid broader tensions between Bondi’s DOJ and New York officials. In February 2025, Bondi announced a lawsuit against James, Governor Kathy Hochul, and others over New York’s immigration policies, signaling a proactive stance against state officials perceived as opposing federal priorities.
Legal experts urge caution in interpreting the allegations against James. The FHFA referral does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing, and misrepresentation on a loan application, if proven, would need to meet a high legal threshold for criminality. Still, the optics of James facing scrutiny for conduct resembling the accusations she made against Trump have intensified public debate.
As the DOJ’s review unfolds, questions linger about the impartiality of high-profile prosecutions and the potential for political motivations to shape legal outcomes. For now, both James and Bondi remain steadfast in their positions, each claiming to uphold the principle that no one is above the law.
Note: The DOJ’s review is ongoing, and no charges have been filed.