New York Attorney General Letitia James is now facing questions surrounding a real estate transaction she executed in August 2023—just weeks before she filed a high-profile civil fraud lawsuit against President Donald Trump.
The document in question, a Specific Power of Attorney signed by James, is raising legal concerns about whether she may have misrepresented her intent to establish a principal residence in Virginia, potentially impacting her eligibility to hold office in New York or exposing her to legal liability.
The issue was flagged by Sam E. Antar, a former certified public accountant and convicted fraudster who now works in forensic accounting.
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Antar gained notoriety in the 1980s for his role as the CFO of Crazy Eddie, a now-defunct electronics retailer involved in one of the largest financial fraud cases of the decade.
After a plea deal, Antar turned his efforts toward uncovering white-collar crime.
In a recent post on his website White Collar Fraud, Antar published documents tied to James’s real estate transaction in Norfolk, Virginia.
BUSTED: NY Attorney General Letitia James Declares Virginia Home Her ‘Principal Residence which means she is legally ineligible to be Attorney General of New York OR if she did not move to Virginia.,she lied to obtain the mortgage. https://t.co/FlQsNEVPRl pic.twitter.com/QF1h9LpKRm
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) April 10, 2025
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The documents show that on August 17, 2023, Letitia James signed a Power of Attorney granting her relative, Shamice Thompson-Hairston, authority to complete the purchase of a Norfolk property on her behalf.
The form includes a sworn declaration from James stating, “I intend to occupy this property as my principal residence.”
The timing of the document and the nature of the declaration have raised questions.
James filed a $455 million civil fraud suit against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization just two months later.
Her lawsuit alleged that Trump had fraudulently inflated the value of his properties to obtain favorable loans and insurance terms.
If James did not in fact move to Virginia, her sworn declaration on the Power of Attorney could be considered a misrepresentation.
Lenders typically offer lower interest rates for primary residences than for secondary homes or investment properties.
If she falsely claimed to be establishing residency in order to secure better loan terms, legal experts suggest that could meet the criteria for mortgage fraud.
On the other hand, if James did take up residency in Virginia, that could pose a different problem.
New York State law requires that statewide officeholders, including the attorney general, maintain residency in New York.
A shift in principal residency to another state could legally disqualify her from holding office, potentially rendering her actions as attorney general—including the Trump civil suit—unenforceable.
“[If] James declared Virginia as her principal residence—which the power of attorney clearly shows was her intention—she may have triggered an automatic vacancy in the office of Attorney General under New York law,” Antar wrote.
Either scenario—misrepresentation on a real estate document or abandoning New York residency while in office—could have serious legal implications.
Letitia James may bear the distinction of becoming the first black female NY AG to earn herself fraud charges.
James brags about exposing deception. But Karma has exposed a sly real estate deal in VA, cut prior to the Trump trial she coveted and raises Qs about her own fraud. pic.twitter.com/uH1N6hSyqR
— Tosca Austen (@ToscaAusten) April 12, 2025
In the most severe case, if a knowingly false statement was made in connection with a financial transaction, James could face scrutiny under federal wire fraud statutes.
These charges carry penalties of up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines.
The civil judgment against Trump, issued in early 2024, remains under appeal.
Trump’s legal team has consistently argued the case was politically motivated.
Should any legal proceedings emerge from the Virginia residency issue, questions could be raised about James’s standing during her prosecution of Trump’s business empire.
As of now, James has not publicly commented on the allegations or the documents surfaced by Antar.
No formal investigation has been announced, but legal analysts and watchdogs are closely monitoring the situation for potential developments.
Antar has published supporting materials related to his findings on his website and continues to call for a closer look at the circumstances surrounding the Power of Attorney and the Norfolk property purchase.
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