New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged during a recent rally speech that President Donald Trump is sending individuals to surveil her home, a claim that came just days before the U.S. Department of Justice officially launched a criminal investigation into the Democratic attorney general over allegations of mortgage fraud.
“They got individuals coming to my house, standing outside my house. Last Sunday – church Sunday while I was in church – these individuals were in front of my house, taking pictures and then streaming it, putting it on social media,” James said while speaking at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network headquarters in Harlem on May 3.
“This isn’t nothing more than a revenge tour! This is nothing more than vindictiveness! This is nothing more than an individual who is upset at me because we secured a $454 million judgment against him and his family and his company!” added James, who was attending a rally to promote City Council President Adrienne Adams’ long shot mayoral campaign, according to a report from the New York Post.
James did not specify which of her properties the alleged surveillance involved, though both her residence in Brooklyn and a disputed property in northern Virginia have been central to the mortgage fraud allegations currently under investigation.
Since March, James has faced mounting allegations that she submitted false information on federal documents to secure favorable loan terms for multiple properties. Critics claim the New York attorney general falsely declared her primary residence as being in Virginia, misrepresented the size of a New York apartment building to bypass additional regulatory requirements, and even listed her elderly father as her husband on official paperwork.
A source familiar with the investigation said the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have launched a joint review of documents related to James’ 2023 purchase of a home in Virginia, following concerns raised last month by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte. In a letter, Pulte questioned how James—who is legally required to maintain residency in New York—could plausibly be spending most nights at the Virginia property. His concerns were reinforced by a visit from Daily Caller reporters, who were confronted and forced off the premises by a woman who declined to answer questions about James or her connection to the residence.
Pulte also alleged that James “falsified” records connected to her 2001 purchase of a Brooklyn brownstone, reportedly understating the number of units in the building—an apparent effort to avoid compliance with regulations requiring the installation of fire alarms and other safety measures.
News of the investigation emerged just as state lawmakers quietly included a $10 million provision in the budget, allowing state officials to use taxpayer funds to cover legal defense costs in cases brought by the federal government. While Democrats in the legislature have framed the measure as a safeguard for state employees, it comes amid growing speculation that New York’s top law enforcement officer could soon face federal charges related to alleged real estate fraud—casting a long shadow over the provision’s true intent.