Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, filed a not-guilty plea to two felony counts on Friday in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia: providing false representations to a financial institution and bank fraud. The accusations relate to her purchase of a three-bedroom house in Norfolk in 2020, which federal prosecutors believe she misrepresented as her principal residence to obtain better mortgage conditions.
Outside the courts, James, surrounded by supporters, declared that she would “not be deterred” and characterized the lawsuit as a component of a larger attempt to turn the legal system into a weapon. According to the indictment, which was filed by interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, James falsely described the use of the property and benefited from the alleged fraud to the tune of about $19,000.
The judge released James on her own recognizance and set January 26, 2026, as the date of the trial. Her legal team intends to contest the charges’ legality, as well as Halligan’s appointment and the prosecution’s intentions.