President Donald Trump’s top housing official, Bill Pulte, issued two new criminal referrals for New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday, in what appears to be an attempt to revive the administration’s legal pursuit of a political opponent.
According to a person familiar with the matter, Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, sent the referrals to the Justice Department. One was directed to the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and the other to the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Both referrals allege “suspected homeowners insurance fraud.” Specifically, one alleges James “may have defrauded” Illinois-based Allstate when applying for homeowners insurance for a property in Norfolk, Virginia. The other alleges similar fraud involving a homeowners insurance application to Universal Property Insurance, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based company.
The referrals reportedly cite posts on X by Mike Davis, a longtime Trump legal adviser.
Abbe Lowell, an attorney for James, accused the administration of pursuing an “improper revenge campaign instead of helping bring down the rising cost of living in this country.” Lowell stated, “These desperate tactics will fail — just as every previous attempt has failed — and exposes an Administration that has abandoned its responsibility to the American people in favor of petty political payback.”
If federal prosecutors pursue new charges based on Pulte’s recommendations, the case could resemble the Trump Justice Department’s previous, unsuccessful fraud case against James in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Pulte’s new referrals appear to concern the same property at the center of the Virginia-based case, where James pleaded not guilty. A judge previously found the case was not brought by a valid US Attorney. However, the new referrals could potentially be investigated in a different federal court district.
The previous case against James was ultimately dismissed after a judge determined that Trump’s appointment of interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan in Alexandria, Virginia, was invalid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Bill Pulte do on Wednesday?
Bill Pulte, President Trump’s top housing official, issued two new criminal referrals for New York Attorney General Letitia James.
What do the referrals allege?
The referrals allege “suspected homeowners insurance fraud” related to applications James submitted to Allstate and Universal Property Insurance.
What was the outcome of the previous case against James?
The case was ultimately dismissed after a judge found that Trump’s appointment of interim US Attorney Lindsey Halligan in Alexandria, Virginia, was invalid.
Given the history of legal challenges and the recent dismissal of a previous case, what impact will these new referrals have on the ongoing legal battle between James and the Trump administration?
