judiciary

Letitia James’s Legal Problems Mount With New Ethics Complaint

Published

April 28, 2025

First reported by The Ingraham Angle, New York Attorney General Letitia James now faces a formal ethics complaint that could escalate her growing legal troubles. The complaint, filed by the America First Legal Foundation (AFL), demands an investigation into James’s alleged misrepresentations in mortgage and court documents — allegations that could amount to professional misconduct and fraud.

As Laura first reported here, a criminal referral was sent to the Department of Justice by U.S. Federal Housing Director William Pulte. The referral alleges that James falsely claimed a Norfolk, Virginia property as her “primary residence” — despite serving as New York’s Attorney General and having no public plans to relocate.

The ethics complaint notes bluntly:

“It is unlikely she ever planned to be a full-time resident of Norfolk, Virginia.”

The filing also points out that if James truly occupied the Norfolk home as her primary residence, she would have violated New York’s constitutional residency requirements for state officeholders.

Beyond the Virginia property, James also allegedly misrepresented the number of dwelling units in a Brooklyn building she owns. Although the certificate of occupancy listed five units, James repeatedly claimed there were only four when applying for federal mortgage assistance — a critical distinction that allowed her to qualify for better loan terms.

The complaint underscores the seriousness of this alleged deception:

“If the building has five dwellings, as indicated by the certificate of occupancy, then her repeated representations that it has only four dwellings are likely fraudulent.”

America First Legal Foundation’s complaint urges the New York State Unified Court System’s Committee on Professional Standards to launch an immediate investigation. AFL contends that James’s actions, if proven, violate multiple provisions of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, including prohibitions against “conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.”

As Laura reported here, James has hired high-profile defense attorney Abbe Lowell — best known for representing Hunter Biden — to push back against the allegations. Lowell has dismissed the charges as politically motivated and claims that any discrepancies were mere clerical mistakes.

However, the ethics complaint stresses that the bar’s disciplinary standard — a “fair preponderance of the evidence” — is far lower than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” threshold required for criminal convictions. The Committee has full authority to launch its own independent investigation without waiting for federal prosecutors.

The filing concludes:

“Significantly, as the chief legal officer for the State of New York, Ms. James ought to aspire to the highest ethical standards. Instead, it appears she has repeatedly traded in her integrity for a monetary benefit.”

The stakes are high. If the allegations are proven, James could face professional sanctions — and the scandal could seriously damage her political future. James, who led the politically charged civil case against former President Trump, is now under fire herself for allegedly violating the very principles of honesty and integrity she claims to uphold.

As Laura has covered from the beginning, this case continues to expose the deep hypocrisy at the highest levels of law enforcement.