NY AG's office hires Hunter Biden's lawyer to defend Letitia James against mortgage fraud accusations
Lowell, a partner at the Winston & Strawn LLP law firm, was hired by the Office of the New York State Attorney General and not retained personally by James, according to the Times Union.
The decision to hire Lowell, a prominent white-collar defense lawyer, was based in part on the AG's office belief that the bombshell criminal referral filed by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte earlier this month was directly correlated to the civil fraud lawsuit James' office brought against President Trump last year, the outlet reported.
Advertisement
3 Lowell was reportedly retained by the New York AG's office and not personally by James.
Ron Sachs/CNP
James is accused of falsifying records to get home loans for a property in Virginia that she claimed was her 'principal residence' in 2023 — while still serving as a New York state prosecutor, according to Pulte's referral to the Justice Department.
Pulte also alleged that in February 2001, James purchased a five-family dwelling in Brooklyn but has 'consistently misrepresented the same property as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications.'
Advertisement
Lowell is representing James as a private citizen, not as a member of Winston & Strawn LLP, according to Fox News.
On Thursday, Lowell attempted to poke holes in the allegations in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi. He also argued that the accusations are nothing but 'retribution' from Trump against James in the letter.
It's unclear if New York taxpayers will be footing the bill for Lowell's legal services.
The DC-based lawyer reportedly 'charges a rate of $855 per billable hour,' a figure that was cited by an attorney for Lunden Roberts – Hunter's baby mama – when the former first son asked an Arkansas court in 2023 to reduce his child support payments.
Advertisement
The New York AG's office and Lowell did not respond to The Post's requests for comment.
3 Lowell defended Hunter Biden from federal tax and gun charges for which he was ultimately convicted of or pled guilty to.
Rod Lamkey – CNP for NY Post
3 Lowell described the criminal referral made against James as 'retribution' from Trump.
AFP via Getty Images
Hunter retained Lowell in December 2022 ahead of House Republican investigations into his overseas business dealings.
Advertisement
Lowell, a graduate of Columbia Law School, served as Hunter's top attorney throughout the special counsel investigation that culminated in federal gun and tax charges.
Hunter was convicted of three felonies at trial in the Delaware gun case and pleaded guilty to nine charges – three felonies and six misdemeanors – in the tax fraud case out of California last year.
He avoided prison time after receiving an 11th-hour pardon from former President Joe Biden in December.
Lowell, who served as chief minority counsel in the House of Representatives during the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s, also successfully defended prominent Democrats John Edwards and former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) from federal corruption charges in 2012 and 2017, respectively.
During Trump's first term, Lowell represented first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, in congressional and FBI probes into Russia collusion allegations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
7 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
New R.I. Air National Guard headquarters in Quonset ‘improves our readiness'
Plans to finally replace the complex moved forward after US Senator Jack Reed Advertisement 'We stepped up from an 84-year-old building, which was showing a little wear and tear, to the most modern facility that we have,' Reed said at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Quonset Air National Guard Base in North Kingstown. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'This building is going to improve professionalism,' the Democratic senator added. 'It's going to inspire, I think, the air men and air women that work here, because they're working in the best facilities.' The new, 43,000-square-foot headquarters – with offices, medical facilities, and a dining and multi-purpose area – will serve as central command for 143d Airlift Wing, and as an emergency operations center for Rhode Island in the event of a natural disaster or other crisis, according to officials. The Rhode Island Air National Guard employs approximately 1,100 military and civilian personnel, including pilots, maintenance, operation, and support personnel, officials said. Advertisement Major General Andrew J. Chevalier, 'In an ever-increasing, challenging, strategic environment with an increasing role of the National Guard in both our state and federal missions, it is imperative that we take a long look into the future to ensure that we are ready and equipped to deploy and win when called,' Chevalier said. 'This building is an investment to help us do that.' From left, US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, US Senator Jack Reed, Rhode Island Governor Dan McGee, and Colonel Adam Wiggins, commander of the 143rd Airlift Wing, listen to guest speakers during a ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Dating back to 1915, the 143d Airlift Wing operates a fleet of C-130J Super Hercules, aircraft that is 'capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas,' according to its During the Global War on Terror, 143d Airlift Wing has provided 'a bridge to and from' combat theaters, the website states. US Representative Seth Magaziner touted on Friday how the unit was 'famously one of the most deployed to Afghanistan in the entire country.' The 143d is also called upon for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions across the United States and around the world, he said. 'If you all keep showing up for our country and doing your job, we will keep showing up for you,' Magaziner, a Democrat, told service members. Next week, Magaziner plans to file a bill with US Representative Trent Kelly, a Mississippi Republican, that, if approved, will fix 'a glitch' in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for members of the National Guard and US Army Reserve, he said. Advertisement Currently, those members can only count time spent on active duty toward qualifying for loan forgiveness – not time spent on temporary assignments and completing other duties, including training, according to Magaziner. The bill, which came from a suggestion by a veteran of the Rhode Island National Guard, would change that, Magaziner said. 'That is one small example of a way that we can take your feedback to make sure that you are given what you are owed and what you have earned,' he told service members on Friday. Members of the Rhode Island 143rd Airlift Wing listen to guest speakers during a ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday, celebrating the opening of a new, $46 million facility that will serve as a state-of-the-art command center at the Quonset Air National Guard Base. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Christopher Gavin can be reached at
UPI
7 minutes ago
- UPI
Former Delaware Gov. Michael Castle dies at 86
1 of 3 | Former Congressman and Gov. Michael N. Castle, R-Del., has died at the age of 86, the politician's family confirmed in a post online. File Photo (2009) by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Former congressman and Gov. Michael N. Castle, R-Del., has died at the age of 86, the politician's family confirmed in a post online. The moderate Republican served two terms as governor between 1985 and 1992 before being elected to Congress in 1993. "Congressman Mike Castle was a founding member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a leading organization for centrist Republicans, and worked in a bipartisan manner to help move people from welfare to work, support fiscally responsible government, improve public education, and protect the community," his family said in the statement. "He served on the House Committee on Financial Services, Committee on Education and Workforce and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence." Castle, who is survived by his wife of over 33 years, Jane DiSabatino, ultimately became the longest-serving member of Congress from Delaware in the state's history. He also served as the lieutenant governor of Delaware from 1981 to 1985 prior to being elected governor, and in the state legislature before that. "Over the arc of the more than 40 years that I knew him - I met him when I was 16 - he repeatedly provided his knowledge and expertise to help me along my own way," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said in a statement, calling Castle an "incredible man." "When we eventually ran against each other, I did my absolute best to run a respectful, positive, policy-based campaign. As we campaigned against each other, I only liked him more." Castle was known as a backer of educational and environmental reforms. As a member of Congress, Castle was a major proponent of the 2001 "No Child Left Behind," legislation that was an effort to improve test scores among U.S. school children. "Governor Castle understood there is no greater legacy we leave to future generations than the quality of our environment. As Governor, his administration's Environmental Legacy program to protect and preserve forests, wetlands, and beaches won recognition for its foresight and impact," his family said in the statement. In addition to DiSabatino, who he married in 1992, Castle is survived by his "many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews." Visitation will take place August 21 at a funeral home in Wilmington, Del. Notable deaths of 2025 Astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to the moon, died August 8, 2025, in Illinois, his family announced. He was 97. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Axios
7 minutes ago
- Axios
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell indicted
A federal grand jury indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Friday, according to Fox 8, The Times-Picayune and multiple outlets. The charges have not been released yet. Why it matters: She's the city's first mayor to be indicted while in office. The big picture: Cantrell's former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, was also indicted, according to the reports. The U.S. Attorney's Office has a press conference at 2:45pm to release more information. Cantrell's attorney told Axios around 1:30pm that he had not received a copy of the indictment yet. He did not make any further comments. The mayor's office has not responded to the allegations yet. Zoom in: Vappie was indicted last year and was accused of falsifying timesheets, lying to the FBI and taking other actions to conceal his romantic relationship with Cantrell. He and Cantrell hired separate criminal defense attorneys last year amid the federal investigations. What they're saying: Cantrell and Vappie have both previously denied allegations they are romantically involved. The U.S. Attorney's Office last year included a photo of a handwritten note investigators say Vappie and Cantrell shared, which includes a heart and the use of the term "baby" as a term of endearment. Previously, Cantrell said that as the city's first female mayor and as a Black woman, she faces more intense scrutiny and has been held to different standards than her predecessors. Between the lines: Vappie's wife filed for divorce in January 2023 and accused him of having an affair with Cantrell in the documents, Fox 8 reported at the time. Cantrell's husband, Jason, died in August 2023 from a heart attack. They were a month shy of 24 years of marriage. State of play: Cantrell has been dogged by scandals since she was elected in 2018. The Democrat says many of the controversies are Republican-led attacks. Along with the alleged affair, other political tussles include a state ethics investigation into her international travel, the City Council evicting her from a city-owned apartment, and a stalking lawsuit she filed against a woman who took pictures of her and Vappie. (A judge dismissed the stalking case.) She also was the target of a failed recall effort last year.
