Letitia James Hires Abbe Lowell Amid Trump Allegations

New York Attorney General Letitia James has retained prominent defense attorney Abbe Lowell to counter allegations of mortgage fraud made in a federal criminal referral by William Pulte, a Trump-appointed official. Lowell strongly refuted the claims as lacking credible evidence, characterizing them as part of a broader campaign of retribution by Donald Trump, particularly in light of James' successful civil fraud case against Trump and his organization. The accusations focus on alleged falsifications in loan documents related to properties in New York and Virginia, but Lowell argues that the evidence has been selectively interpreted and that any errors were minor paperwork mistakes, not fraud. Legal experts and James herself contend that the timing and nature of these decades-old allegations are politically motivated attempts to undermine her office's independence and retaliate for her actions against Trump. James has publicly vowed not to be intimidated or silenced by what she describes as a smear campaign. The episode highlights ongoing tensions between efforts to hold powerful figures accountable and accusations of weaponizing federal authority for political ends.