Letitia James wags finger at Trump in first interview following 'damning' fraud allegations



Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James was vague and defiant in her first interview since allegations surfaced that she has repeatedly engaged in mortgage fraud.

On Thursday, James appeared on "Inside City Hall" with Spectrum NY1 to discuss the allegations, though she apparently did little more than to call them "baseless."

"Let me just say to all New Yorkers and to all Americans: The allegations are baseless," she said.

When pressed to give more information, James dodged. "As you know, as any good attorney, I will not litigate this case in a camera," she replied.

"It is important that we respond to these allegations at the appropriate time and in an appropriate way."

James also went on the attack, characterizing herself as one of many victims "targeted" by President Donald Trump and his "revenge tour."

"I will not be silenced. I will not be bullied. I will not bend. I will not break. And I will not bow to anyone. No one is above the law, including the president of these United States," she insisted.

"I will not go back and forth with respect to these baseless allegations. I am more focused again on standing up for freedom, liberties, and the rule of law in the state of New York."

James seemed less confident and bombastic on Wednesday, just one day before the Spectrum NY interview, when she ducked the media outside her Brooklyn residence by pretending to be on the phone, the New York Post reported. The outlet described the phone ploy as "inartful."

Law professor Jonathan Turley indicated that the evidence against James is not only 'pretty straightforward' but 'quite damning.'

James may claim that the allegations swirling about are "baseless," but other legal scholars aren't so sure. On Fox News Tuesday night, law professor Jonathan Turley indicated that the evidence against James is not only "pretty straightforward" but "quite damning."

In August 2023, James, 66, and a relative purchased a home in Norfolk, Virginia. In documents tied to the purchase, James pledged to use the home as her "principal residence," an apparent violation of a New York statute that requires all statewide officeholders to reside in New York, as Blaze News previously reported.

James has also allegedly violated the terms of her investment property in Brooklyn, claiming it has only four units when previous documentation indicates it has five.

According to William Pulte, the director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency, the purpose of fudging the number of units would be to secure a conforming loan from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. To qualify for a conforming loan, a property may have no more than four units.

Pulte further alleged that James even went so far as to list her father as her husband to secure a mortgage loan in 1983. In forms dated May 2000, "Ms. James was listed again as 'husband and wife,'" according to Pulte, though whether her father was also mentioned in those documents is unclear.

Pulte sent a letter this week, recommending that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche look into whether James committed wire, mail, and bank fraud and made false statements to a financial institution, among other crimes.

Despite this alleged history of falsifying real estate documents for better lending terms, James ruthlessly targeted Trump in a lawfare campaign that began shortly after he left office at the end of his first term. Turley joked that she "prosecuted Trump for everything short of ripping a label off a mattress."

She even brazenly sued Trump and the Trump Organization for allegedly overvaluing properties to secure better terms with banks and insurance companies. The irony that James now faces similar accusations is "perfectly crushing," Turley said.

Turley also cautioned that in her relentless pursuit of Trump, James set a standard that she may not be able to meet herself.

"She insisted that these technicalities matter and that the powerful should not be given a free pass," Turley explained. "Well, that bill has come due."

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Pete Hegseth fends off another desperate attempt to tank his nomination



Senators received an affidavit from Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, on Tuesday alleging that he caused his second wife to be fearful for her safety. Democratic senators promptly expressed outrage over the allegations, despite both Hegseth and his ex-wife denying them.

Hegseth, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to head the Department of Defense, addressed several allegations related to sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse during his Senate confirmation hearing on January 14. Notably, many of the allegations were anonymous.

"I'm not a perfect person, but redemption is real," Hegseth said, denying the various allegations but admitting he has changed. "And God forged me in ways I know I'm prepared for."

Despite his wholehearted rejection of the allegations, Democrats continued to hammer on Hegseth's past.

"As I have said for months, the reports of Mr. Hegseth's history of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and public misconduct necessitate an exhaustive background investigation," Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said in a statement Tuesday. "I have been concerned that the background check process has been inadequate, and this sworn affidavit confirms that fact."

The affidavit in question alleges that Hegseth behaved in a volatile and threatening manner toward his second wife, Samantha Hegseth, making her fear for her safety.

'Following their divorce, both Pete and Samantha Hegseth signed a court document in 2021 saying neither parent claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.'

"Sam has never alleged that there was any abuse, she signed court documents acknowledging that there was no abuse and recently reaffirmed the same during her FBI interview," Hegseth's lawyer Tim Parlatore said in a statement. "Belated claims by Danielle Dietrich, an anti-Trump far-left Democrat who is divorced from Mr. Hegseth's brother and never got along with the Hegseth family, do nothing to change that."

"After an acrimonious divorce, Ms. Dietrich has had an axe to grind against the entire Hegseth family," Parlatore added. "Ms. Dietrich admits that she saw nothing but is now falsely accusing Sam of lying to both the Court and to the FBI because of private, undocumented statements that she allegedly made 10 years ago."

Samantha also responded to the affidavit, telling NBC in an email that she does not believe it to be accurate.

"First and foremost, I have not and will not comment on my marriage to Pete Hegseth," Samantha said. "I do not have representatives speaking on my behalf, nor have I ever asked anyone to share or speak about the details of my marriage on my behalf, whether it be a reporter, a committee member, a transition team member, etc."

"I do not believe your information to be accurate, and I have cc'd my lawyer," she added.

“There was no physical abuse in my marriage," Samantha said. "This is the only further statement I will make to you, I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.”

Following their divorce, both Pete and Samantha Hegseth signed a court document in 2021 saying neither parent claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. The two were married from 2010 to 2018 and have three children.

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Trump says Hegseth's support is 'strong and deep' despite confirmation hurdles



President-elect Donald Trump said support for Pete Hegseth, his nominee to head the Department of Defense, remains "strong and deep" despite numerous reports suggesting otherwise.

Since Hegseth was first nominated for the post in November, various allegations ranging from alcohol abuse to sexual misconduct have plagued his confirmation bid. Hegseth and several of his colleagues have publicly denied these allegations.

'Pete Hegseth is doing very well,' Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. 'His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe.'

One of the most notable roadblocks for Hegseth has come from Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. Sources close to the Senate told Blaze News that Ernst has lobbied against Hegseth's nomination, although she has publicly denied these reports. Other outlets have reported that Hegseth's support within the Senate GOP conference more broadly has wavered.

Despite this, Trump has maintained his wholehearted endorsement of Hegseth and reaffirmed that his support in the Senate remains "strong and deep."

"Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. "His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe."

"He was a great student - Princeton/Harvard educated - with a Military state of mind," Trump continued. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of [Defense], one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!"

While there seems to be a pressure campaign to have Hegseth step aside, both Trump and the nominee have maintained that he will go through with the confirmation process.

As of this writing, two of Trump's nominees have withdrawn from their respective bids.

Trump initially tapped Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida in November to serve as attorney general in the upcoming administration, although he later withdrew just two weeks later, as he felt that he had become a political distraction for the transition team. Trump later nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role.

Trump also recruited Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration on Sunday. Chronister withdrew his bid just a few days later on Tuesday, after becoming the subject of criticism over his past progressive policies and COVID policing.

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