New York Attorney General Letitia James has retained prominent white-collar defense attorney Abbe Lowell to represent her amid mounting mortgage fraud allegations referred to the U.S. Department of Justice by the Trump Administration.

Lowell’s involvement was confirmed Thursday by the New York Attorney General’s office.

The longtime defense lawyer, known for representing high-profile political figures, recently served as legal counsel to Hunter Biden in his federal weapons case.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

In a six-page letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Lowell accused President Donald J. Trump of engaging in “political retribution” by encouraging federal authorities to investigate James.

The letter, sent Thursday, alleges that the criminal referral against James stems from her civil fraud case against President Trump and the Trump Organization.

James, who ran for office in 2018 vowing to investigate Trump, now faces scrutiny herself after being accused of misrepresenting a property as her principal residence on a mortgage application.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The property, located in Virginia and purchased in 2023, was listed as James’ “principal residence” despite her being New York’s sitting attorney general at the time.

Letitia James is facing 30 years in prison and $1M in fines for falsiying a loan application..

Byron Donalds ~of course she should be charged

The liberal media is trying to bury this story, so you folks know exactly what to do pic.twitter.com/QsgNT3F8Xw

— @Chicago1Ray (@Chicago1Ray) April 24, 2025

New York law requires its attorneys general to be residents of the state during their tenure, and to have lived there for at least five years prior to running for office.

The New York Post reported that documents reviewed by the outlet—including one assigning power of attorney—bear James’ signature and a statement that reads, “I intend to occupy this property as my principal residence.”

The documents were cited by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte, who referred the matter to federal authorities for further review.

In addition to the Virginia property allegation, Pulte noted that James may have also misrepresented a Brooklyn home she purchased in 2001.

Jim Jordan on Letitia James criminal referral:
“Turns out you can’t have your principal residence in Virginia and be AG of New York. You can’t say your dad’s your husband. Or claim a five-unit is a four. But that’s what Letitia James did—while going after Trump for the same… pic.twitter.com/bww5xWdnBW

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) April 18, 2025

According to the FHFA director, James listed the property as having four units on mortgage documents and building permits, even though it has more.

This discrepancy could have resulted in a lower mortgage rate and qualified her for benefits under the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

Lowell, in his letter to Attorney General Bondi, pushed back against the allegations and characterized the referral as baseless and politically motivated.

“This so-called ‘criminal referral,’ which recycles long-disproven allegations and is ‘(b)ased on media reports,’ lacks any credible foundation,” he wrote.

Lowell also accused President Trump of hypocrisy, stating, “The stunning hypocrisy of President Trump’s complaint that the Justice Department had been ‘politicized’ and ‘weaponized’ against him is laid bare as he and others in his administration are now asking you to undertake the very same practice.”

According to reporting from Fox News, Lowell will be representing James in his individual capacity and not as a representative of his law firm, Winston & Strawn LLP.

The Attorney General’s office did not respond to requests for comment on whether taxpayer funds would be used for her legal defense.

As of now, the Department of Justice has not announced whether it will act on the referral or open a formal investigation.

,@RogerJStoneJr discusses an explosive new scandal involving New York Attorney General Letitia James pic.twitter.com/5jginRMqb7

— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) April 15, 2025

Connect with Vetted Off-Duty Cops to Instantly Fulfill Your Security Needs

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.