Local officials reacted sharply to the stunning arrest of state Attorney General Letitia James on federal mortgage fraud charges, calling it a sobering moment for an official who built her career promising to “get Trump.”
“No one is above the law,” said Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick, echoing James’s oft-repeated phrase. “She campaigned on a platform of going after President Trump, and now it appears the shoe is on the other foot. The allegations, if proven, would represent a shocking breach of the public trust by the state’s highest legal official.”
Senator Dean Murray struck a similar tone, saying the arrest underscores the dangers of politicizing law enforcement. “It’s funny how those who target others for political payback eventually get bitten by it,” Murray said. “She ran on a promise to get Trump—that’s what got her elected. Now it’s coming back to bite her. It’s ironic, to say the least. No one should ever weaponize their office for political gain.”
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano said the case shows how power can corrupt. “When you use your position to settle political scores, you lose sight of the law. If these allegations are true, she has betrayed the public trust and must step aside immediately.”
James is accused of falsifying mortgage documents by claiming a Virginia property as her primary residence while serving as New York’s attorney general, allegedly securing a lower loan rate. Insiders believe the Virginia charges are just the beginning as prosecutors unravel her other real estate deals, including a five-family apartment building in New York she said has four units in order to get more favorable terms on her loans.
“We’re looking at possible insurance fraud, mail fraud, and a variety of other charges related to her real estate holdings,” an official said. “It doesn’t look good for her.”