New York Attorney General Letitia James entered a not guilty plea on Friday before a federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia, facing bank fraud and false statement charges related to her 2020 home purchase. Prosecutors allege she misrepresented the property as a secondary residence while renting it to another family, securing a lower mortgage rate that saved approximately $19,000 across 30 years. James called the charges politically motivated retaliation from the president and denied wrongdoing through her attorneys, Abbe Lowell and Andrew Bosse.
The indictment came from Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide appointed last month as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Donald Trump, who has feuded with James following her civil fraud case against him. James plans to challenge the prosecution as selective and vindictive, while questioning Halligan's authority to appoint. Her trial begins on Jan. 26, 2026, with motion hearings scheduled for December before U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.
The indictment came from Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide appointed last month as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Donald Trump, who has feuded with James following her civil fraud case against him. James plans to challenge the prosecution as selective and vindictive, while questioning Halligan's authority to appoint. Her trial begins on Jan. 26, 2026, with motion hearings scheduled for December before U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.
