Top Trump housing official issues new criminal referral for New York AG Letitia James
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency under President Trump, issued two new criminal referrals alleging homeowners insurance fraud by New York Attorney General Letitia James to the Justice Department.
- The referrals accuse James of potentially defrauding insurance companies Allstate and Universal Property Insurance on applications for properties in Virginia and Florida, citing social media posts by Trump legal adviser Mike Davis.
- James’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, condemned the referrals as part of a politically motivated "revenge campaign" by the Trump administration, highlighting previous failed attempts to prosecute James.
- The new referrals may lead to investigations in different federal districts but resemble the previously dismissed fraud case against James in Virginia, which was thrown out due to questions about the legitimacy of the US Attorney’s appointment.
- James was indicted in October 2025 on charges of false statements and bank fraud but pleaded not guilty; the case was dismissed after a judge ruled the interim US Attorney's appointment invalid.
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