A senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration has made fresh criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James, reviving legal tensions between the two figures despite the collapse of a prior federal case.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), sent letters this week to federal prosecutors in both Florida and Illinois, alleging potential homeowner’s insurance fraud by James.
In one referral to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Pulte claimed James may have falsified information on an insurance application submitted to a Fort Lauderdale-based insurer. A second referral sent to prosecutors in Illinois raised similar concerns involving an application to a separate insurance company.
The latest move marks a continuation of a long-running political and legal clash between the Trump administration and James, who previously brought a high-profile civil fraud case against Trump and his business empire.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said James had been “referred again for criminal prosecution,” framing the development as part of ongoing efforts to hold her accountable.
However, attorneys for James strongly rejected the allegations. Her counsel, Abbe Lowell, accused federal officials of pursuing a politically motivated campaign.
“These desperate tactics will fail — just as every previous attempt has failed,” Lowell said, arguing the administration was misusing its authority to target a political adversary.
The new referrals come months after a separate federal case against James was dismissed. She had previously been charged with bank fraud and making false statements in connection with a mortgage application tied to a Virginia property. A federal judge threw out that indictment in November, citing issues with the appointment of the interim U.S. attorney who brought the case.
Subsequent efforts to revive the charges also faltered, with two federal grand juries declining to re-indict her.
Legal analysts note that while criminal referrals can trigger investigations, they do not guarantee charges will be filed. Prosecutors must independently evaluate the evidence before deciding whether to proceed.
The situation underscores broader concerns about the intersection of law enforcement and politics, particularly as high-profile legal disputes increasingly involve elected officials and senior government figures.
James has consistently denied any wrongdoing and previously argued that efforts to prosecute her are retaliatory, pointing to her office’s earlier lawsuit against Trump, which resulted in a fraud ruling before being overturned on appeal.
As of now, it remains unclear whether federal prosecutors in Florida or Illinois will take action on the latest referrals. The case adds another chapter to an already contentious legal battle that continues to unfold across multiple jurisdictions.
