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“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!” she added, while promoting City Council President Adrienne Adams’ mayoral bid, according to the New York Post.
James did not specify which of her properties has allegedly been targeted, but her real estate holdings have recently come under intense scrutiny. Both her Brooklyn home and a reportedly undisclosed property in northern Virginia have been linked to the ongoing fraud allegations against her.
The controversy stems from accusations that James listed a Virginia property she bought in 2023 as her “principal residence” despite serving as New York’s attorney general, a position that requires residency in the state. Under New York law, the attorney general must live in the state for five years before running for office and must continue to reside there during their tenure.
A criminal referral from Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte has also raised questions about James’ 2001 purchase of a Brooklyn property. Pulte alleges that James misrepresented the building’s size on multiple mortgage documents, potentially reducing her interest rates under the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). The referral claims James listed the property as having only four units, which could have allowed her to access lower mortgage rates and reduced monthly payments.
Federal agents are now reportedly investigating James’s real estate dealings, including the use of her elderly father’s name on property documents. FBI agents and federal prosecutors are said to be scrutinizing records connected to both the Virginia and New York properties as part of the widening probe.
To defend against these allegations, James has hired high-profile attorney Abbe Lowell, known for representing high-profile clients like Hunter Biden and Jared Kushner. The legal battle could come with a hefty price tag for New York taxpayers, thanks to a controversial new state law allowing public funds to be used for legal defense against federal investigations. The measure provides up to $10 million in taxpayer funding for state employees accused of wrongdoing by federal authorities.
