FBI director confirms federal probe into New York attorney general
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing the Democratic New York attorney general’s real estate transactions, Director Kash Patel confirmed in an interview with Fox News on Sunday.
The investigation is focused on whether the state Attorney General, Letitia James, committed fraud on a mortgage application, a source familiar with the case told CNN. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia has issued subpoenas on the matter, they said.
James, who won a civil case last year against the Trump Organization and Trump himself over allegations of faulty business practices, is the first public official who investigated the president to now face potential criminal prosecutions themselves.
While Patel declined to share details about the investigation, he said in an interview on Fox News “this case, I can tell you, is being handled by our professional pros who are subject matter experts, reporting directly to headquarters, which reports to (Deputy Director Dan Bongino) and I.”
The Justice Department has made clear cases into those who investigated Trump are a priority, with Attorney General Pam Bondi announcing a Weaponization Working Group on her first day in office to look at examples of “politicized justice” from law enforcement individuals like James.
Lowell, a lawyer who represents James, said in a statement earlier this month the investigation is focused on “baseless and long-discredited allegations” and “appears to be the political retribution President Trump threatened.”
James plans to tap into a private legal defense fund to cover expenses, according to a spokesperson for the attorney general. She is also planning to use state funds to help cover the expenses, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.
