Conservatives celebrate after Trump admin refers NY AG Letitia James for potential prosecution: ‘Karma'
Droves of conservatives relished the prospect of New York's Attorney General Letitia James having to 'eat her own words' after the Trump administration referred her for potential federal prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud.
Critics quickly seized on James' own declaration that 'no one is above the law' after news broke Tuesday that she had been hit with a criminal referral for allegedly committing financial fraud to secure her own favorable property loans.
James blasted out the now-infamous phrase when her office opted to target the Trump Organization for overinflating the values of many of its properties in a civil fraud trial that ended with a $454 million judgment.
Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators were quick to boast that 'karma' was coming for the AG — gloating that 'the tables have now turned.'
'No one is above the law!' US Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) blasted out on X.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) added: 'Letitia James engaged in some of the most shameful, partisan lawfare against President Trump — based on far less evidence than this.'
'These allegations must be investigated thoroughly,' Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) declared.
And Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) mocked the AG's prior remarks, tweeting: 'Something, something… no one is above the law.'
Trump administration refers NY AG Letitia James for potential prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud
Conservatives celebrate after Trump admin refers NY AG Letitia James for potential prosecution: 'Karma'
Letitia 'no one is above the law' James dodges questions about mortgage fraud scandal outside NYC home, pretends to be on phone
A slew of right-leaning commentators also piled on, with Jonathan Turley, a legal expert and Post columnist, saying 'the irony is crushing.'
'She previously prosecuted Trump for everything short of ripping a label off a mattress. She emphasized that Trump was ultimately responsible for any filings made in his name or that of his company,' he wrote in an X post.
'The greatest danger for Letitia James may be if the Letitia James standard is applied to her case. She emphasized that such technicalities matter and that the powerful should not be given a free pass under these laws.'
Outkick founder Clay Travis also chimed in, posting: 'New York AG Letitia James being prosecuted for lying about her assets to get a mortgage after prosecuting Trump for lying about his assets to get a bank loan would be too perfect. They always accuse you of what they actually did.'
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The gleeful reaction came just hours after Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, alleging that James had 'falsified records' to get home loans for a Virginia property she claimed as her 'principal residence' in 2023.
The alleged offense unfolded in late August 2023 — just weeks before James began her civil fraud trial against Trump's business.
'Ms. James was the sitting Attorney General of New York and is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York — even though her mortgage applications list her intent to have the Norfolk, VA, property as her primary home,' the letter stated.
'It appears Ms. James' property and mortgage-related misrepresentations may have continued to her recent 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase in order to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable loan terms.'
The AG's Office put out a statement in the aftermath, vowing not to be intimidated by the Trump admin's directive.
'Attorney General James is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers, especially as this Administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution,' a spokesman from her office said in a statement.
'She will not be intimidated by bullies — no matter who they are.'
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