New York (AP) – Sended by President Donald Trump’s political weaponization emperor letter He urged New York Attorney General Leticia James to step down from her position “in good faith” four days after she began investigating her mortgage fraud. Then he It appeared Outside her house.
Ed Martin, director of the Department of Justice’s Weaponization Working Group, told James’ attorney on August 12 that Democrats would best serve “the goodness of the nation and the nation” by resigning and closing allegedly inconsistencies in the Brooklyn townhouse and Virginia home.
“Her resignation from the office would give more peace than it would progress to the people of New York and the Americans,” Martin wrote. “I consider this a sincere act.”
Then last Friday, Martin appeared in a “Columbo”-style trench coat outside James’ Brooklyn Townhouse, accompanied by an aide and a New York post-journalist. He didn’t meet James or go inside the building. The postwriter saw him tell his neighbor: “I’m just looking at a house, an interesting house. It’s an important house.”
James’ lawyer Abbe Lowell fought back on Monday and told Martin letter His blunt demand for James’ resignation violated the Department of Justice standards and norms of professional responsibility and legal ethics.
The Justice Department “has solid policy towards using investigations and prosecutors to achieve political objectives,” Lowell wrote. “This is more than ever when that demand was made to seek political revenge against the civil servants on the other side.”
“Let me be clear: it doesn’t happen here,” added Lowell.
Lowell also said that Martin visited James’s home as “a truly strange and media for media stunt,” which was “outside the boundaries” of Justice Department rules. He took a photo in front of James’ townhouse and included an image of security camera footage showing Martin in his trench coat. He said that Martin appeared to be on a “visit to tourist attractions.”
The Associated Press obtained copies of both letters Tuesday. A spokesman for Martin has been left asking for comment. James’ office declined to comment.
The letter was the latest salvos in a few months of drama, including Trump’s retaliation campaign against James and others who fought James and him and fought his policies.
James has He sued the Republican president and his administration Dozens of times last year Wins a $454 million ruling In a lawsuit claiming against Trump and his company he lied about the value of his assets in relation to financial statements given to the bank. The Court of Appeals is not yet in control Trump’s bid to overturn the verdict.
Earlier this month, the AP reported: The Department of Justice summoned James About records relating to the civil fraud lawsuit and the lawsuit she filed against the National Rifle Association.
Martin’s investigation comes from a letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi by Federal Housing and Finance Director William Plute in April, calling for James to consider investigating and testing, claiming that he “falsified bank documents and real estate records.”
Part, whose agency regulates mortgage investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, cited “media reports” claiming James mislisted the Virginia home as a major residence, suggesting he might be trying to avoid the higher interest rates that often apply to the second home.
Records show that James was listed as a co-borrower in 2023 at the house that her nie had bought. Lowell said the records and correspondence easily disproves Pult’s allegations.
James said he “erroneously stated the property as being Ms. James’ primary residence,” but James signed the form of a power of attorney, but she emailed the mortgage broker at the same time that “it is not my primary residence.”
Pulte also accused James of lying to real estate records about the number of Brooklyn Townhouse apartments he has owned since 2001.
A certificate of occupancy issued to a previous owner who has approved up to five units within the building where James lives and rented an apartment. Other city records show that the townhouse has four units, numbers listed by James in the building’s permit application and mortgage documents.
On August 8th, Bondy appointed Martin, a former Republican political operative, to investigate. Martin, a current US pardon lawyer and former representation U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., is also investigating mortgage fraud allegations against Senator D-Calif. Schiff’s lawyers called the allegations “transparently false, old and long-standingly denied.”
Lowell said working group Martin will lead “as it is “appropriately named” because it is “weaponized” to carry out the threats of the president and attorney general.”
