As a result, FHFA Director William Pulte launched a probe after Sam Antar began making the rounds in the media.

He then sent a letter to Pam Bondi after concluding Antar’s findings in his own investigation. Trump appointed Bondi as US Attorney General upon re-entering the White House. 

Key Allegations In FHFA Letter:

• Virginia Property: James is accused of falsely claiming a Norfolk, Virginia home as her primary residence in 2023 to secure better mortgage rates. However, New York law requires her to reside in New York. A power-of-attorney document signed by James granted her niece authority to execute the purchase. In addition, it gave her authority to list the property as James’s principal residence.

• Brooklyn Property: FHFA alleged that James also misrepresented a five-unit Brooklyn brownstone as a four-unit property. She allegedly did this to qualify for a loan intended for residential mortgage. The evidence uncovered by Sam Antar claims this happened multiple times dating back to the early 2000s. FHFA alleges these misrepresentations would have gotten more favorable loan terms.

• Mortgage Document: An additional claim involves a 1983 mortgage document where James and her father allegedly signed as husband and wife in order to potentially to meet lending requirements. The two also allegedly listed themselves as married in documentation 17 years later in May 2000.

Legal Implications

Now it all depends where the DOJ’s investigation leads. If substantiated, these allegations could lead to charges such as wire fraud and mail fraud. In addition to charges of bank fraud. These offenses carries large fines and potential imprisonment.

Defense And Political Context

James’s attorney, Abbe Lowell has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. He labels them as “baseless” and “long-discredited.”

He contends that any errors on mortgage docs were clerical and lacked intent to defraud. 

Lovell has reportedly provided documents showing James’s was helping her niece purchase the Virginia property. He has also allegedly showed the Brooklyn property’s unit count was accurate in filings. Lowell also criticized the FHFA Director’s referral. He contends it risks politicizing the role of federal housing regulators.

Meanwhile, the investigation has sparked political controversy. Critics argue that it is retaliation by the Trump against James. James led a civil fraud case resulting in a significant judgment against then-former President Trump.

In that case, New York v. Trump, the former President and the Trump Organization entities were ordered to pay more than $450 million in total.

Does Bondi Have The Legal Chops To Win A Conviction?

Will Bondi win a conviction against James? Probably not. Bondi’s track record as a prosecutor in Florida was lackluster at best. She had one prosecution as Hillsborough County State Attorney. Bondi’s only successful prosecution was of Dwight Gooden in 2006. Authorities accused Gooden  of violating the terms of his probation and for substance abuse.

As Florida AG she fought against Marriage Equality. She also fought to overturn ObamaCare. She also lost both. 

In 2011, Bondi also pressured two attorneys to resign from Florida’s Economic Crime Division. The attorneys were investigating Lender Processing Services. Florida’s Economic Crime Division was investigating LPS for robosigning. After the resignations, Bondi received campaign contributions from Lender Processing Services.

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