New York Attorney General Letitia James is under scrutiny after a formal ethics complaint was filed with the New York State Unified Court System’s Committee on Professional Standards, following a criminal referral issued by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte.
The complaint, submitted by conservative legal advocacy group America First Legal (AFL), accuses James of falsifying mortgage documents and misrepresenting property details to secure favorable federal housing loans.
According to the referral, James allegedly submitted false information related to a property she owns in Norfolk, Virginia, and misclassified a five-unit building in Brooklyn as a four-unit home—a potential violation of federal housing guidelines and New York’s professional conduct rules for attorneys.
AFL’s senior litigation counsel Nicholas Barry emphasized the gravity of the allegations, stating, “The New York Bar Committee on Professional Standards for the Albany region should immediately launch an investigation into Ms. James’ actions, and if it determines the allegations are true, impose appropriate discipline.” Barry added, “No matter how big, rich, or powerful you think you are, no one is above the law.”
While the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) provides the framework for attorney conduct, it does not have the authority to discipline attorneys. That responsibility falls under the jurisdiction of the state court system’s attorney grievance committees, which will now review the AFL’s complaint.
Dan Epstein, AFL Vice President, characterized the issue as part of a broader pattern of misconduct, stating, “For a state prosecutor who has maligned the President of the United States for political gain, public accountability will serve as a cure to Letitia James’ endless lawfare and abuse of power.”
The legal and political implications of the complaint are already reverberating. Former President Donald Trump, a frequent target of James’s legal actions, responded with a blistering rebuke. “Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office.”
In response, James has retained high-profile attorney Abbe Lowell to defend against the allegations. Lowell, who has represented multiple high-ranking political figures, framed the complaint as political retaliation.
“The stunning hypocrisy of President Trump’s complaint that the Justice Department had been ‘politicized’ and ‘weaponized’ against him is laid bare as he and others in his administration are now asking you to undertake the very same practice,” Lowell said in a statement.
Epstein, however, maintained that the substance of the allegations—if proven—would demonstrate a serious breach of public trust.
“If what Director Pulte uncovered is true, then we have a sitting state Attorney General who made false certifications to the United States in return for federal benefits,” he said.
As of now, no formal disciplinary action has been announced. The Committee on Professional Standards has not publicly commented on the pending review. James’s office has not issued a direct response to the complaint beyond her counsel’s statements.
The case highlights the growing intersection of legal ethics, political accountability, and federal housing policy, and could set a precedent for how top state officials are held accountable for alleged misconduct outside the courtroom.
