New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing renewed scrutiny following public remarks in which she addressed allegations of mortgage fraud during an appearance with former television host Joy Reid.

James said federal investigators with the Department of Justice are pursuing an inquiry into her personal affairs, claiming the investigation is politically motivated and lacks merit.

“Donald Trump said that he wanted, he said that I was, he called me all kind of names, and he basically directed the DOJ to investigate my affairs. And they’re using mortgage fraud as the vehicle upon which they are investigating myself, Adam Schiff, Mrs. Cook, Lisa Cook, and countless others, and it is, most of it, as you know, is frivolous, it’s baseless because in order to prove mortgage fraud, one has to prove intent, and that’s a very high standard, high bar to meet,” James said.

Her comments effectively previewed a possible defense strategy if charges were brought forward, suggesting prosecutors would be unable to establish intent.

Mortgage fraud cases typically require prosecutors to demonstrate that a misrepresentation was made knowingly and willfully in order to secure financial benefit.

The allegations surrounding James involve several reported instances of irregularities in her mortgage applications and property claims.

Records indicate she once listed her father as her husband on mortgage documents, a designation critics argue is not an error commonly made in routine filings.

🚨NEW: Letitia James tells Joy Reid the mortgage fraud allegations against her are “baseless” since it’s hard to prove she did it *ON PURPOSE*🚨

“It’s baseless because in order to prove mortgage fraud, one has to prove intent — and that’s a very high standard, a very hard high… pic.twitter.com/KlhvfDFYpi

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) September 16, 2025

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In another instance, James is accused of misrepresenting the size of a New York City rental property, claiming it had four bedrooms instead of five.

That detail reportedly allowed her to secure a lower interest rate.

Additionally, in 2023, she is alleged to have identified a Virginia house as her primary residence, again qualifying for more favorable lending terms.

Legal experts note that in fraud cases, establishing intent often relies on showing patterns of conduct rather than requiring direct admissions.

A consistent series of misrepresentations across multiple filings can be used by prosecutors to argue that actions were deliberate rather than accidental.

The DOJ has not announced formal charges against James, but the investigation has drawn significant attention because of her high-profile role in pursuing legal action against political opponents, including President Donald Trump.

Critics argue that her own legal exposure raises questions about whether she applied different standards to herself compared to those she targeted in office.

James has maintained that the investigation is without basis and part of a broader political effort to discredit her.

Federal prosecutors, however, have not confirmed or denied details of the inquiry, in keeping with DOJ policy.

The controversy comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of political figures facing personal legal challenges while exercising prosecutorial authority.

If charges were filed, James would be the first sitting New York attorney general in modern history to face federal prosecution over financial improprieties.

The DOJ is expected to continue examining the reported discrepancies in James’s filings to determine whether a pattern of fraud can be substantiated.

For now, her public defense underscores the legal hurdles federal prosecutors would need to overcome should they choose to bring a case.