New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on federal bank fraud charges after prosecutors alleged she lied on a mortgage application to obtain favorable loan terms on a Virginia property she later rented out.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury, centers on a single-family home in Norfolk, Virginia, that James co-purchased in August 2020 for roughly $137,000. Most of the purchase was financed with a $109,600 loan that prohibited the home from being used as a rental or investment property, according to prosecutors.
By misrepresenting the property as a second home, James received a lower interest rate and saved “approximately $18,933 over the life of the loan,” prosecutors said in a five-page filing.
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte referred the case to the Department of Justice earlier this year, prompting a criminal probe that led to Thursday’s indictment.
According to financial disclosure forms reviewed by the
New York Post, James repeatedly listed the Norfolk property as an “investment” from 2020 through 2023 in filings with the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. In 2024, she changed the classification to “real property,” just weeks after the FHFA referral was made.
“The indicted attorney general also estimated the value of the property anywhere between $150,000 and $200,000,” the Post reported.
Despite the loan’s clear prohibition against rental use, prosecutors allege James used the property as a rental investment and earned thousands of dollars in income that she failed to report on multiple disclosure forms.
In her 2020 disclosure, James did list an “investment real property” in Norfolk that generated between $1,000 and $5,000 in revenue, but it is unclear if that referred to the same home named in the indictment.
According to prosecutors, James agreed to a “Second Home Rider” when taking out the loan, which required her to occupy the home as her secondary residence and forbade any rental or shared ownership arrangement.
“Despite these representations,” the indictment reads, “the Norfolk property was not occupied or used by James as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property.”
Prosecutors also said James made false statements on her homeowners’ insurance application, claiming the home would be “owner occupied,” and on her federal tax filings, where she classified the house as “rental real estate” and reported “thousand(s) of dollars in rents received.”
The federal indictment charges James with two counts: bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted on both counts, she faces up to 60 years in prison and fines totaling as much as $2 million.
The judge presiding over James’ mortgage fraud case on Friday rejected a motion seeking to compel federal prosecutors to maintain a log of all their communications with the media.
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell had filed the request last week, following James’ arraignment on charges of bank fraud and making false statements. The motion cited a report alleging that U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan exchanged a series of encrypted Signal messages with a reporter regarding the case,
the New York Post reported.
“[T]he defendant does not demonstrate that it is necessary for the Court to order the government to track communications with the media in any particular form,” wrote US District Judge Jamar Walker in his six-page order.
“The defendant’s request that the government be required to keep a communication log is DENIED,” the Biden-appointed judge ruled.
Walker further wrote that while Halligan’s Signal chat with Lawfare senior editor Anna Bower earlier this month was “unusual,” he nevertheless declined to offer an opinion “on whether they were improper in any sense, either legal or ethical.”
Halligan’s Signal messages to the reporter were configured to automatically disappear after eight hours, The Post reported.
The judge did not address whether Halligan’s communications — which reportedly disputed a New York Times story revealing that James’ grandniece told a grand jury she had never paid rent on the Norfolk, Va., property at the center of the case — constituted material subject to discovery requirements.
James pleaded not guilty last week to one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution.
House Republicans are exploring legal and constitutional strategies to block New York City mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani from being sworn into office if he wins Tuesday’s election, citing the Constitution’s post–Civil War “insurrection clause,” according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
The effort, first reported by the New York Post, is being led in part by the New York Young Republican Club, which argues that Mamdani’s past statements calling to “resist ICE” and his ties to left-wing organizations could qualify as “giving aid or comfort to the enemies” of the United States — language drawn directly from Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
That provision, enacted in 1868, bars from public office any person who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the United States, or who has provided “aid or comfort” to its enemies.
The clause was originally intended to prevent former Confederate officials from holding office but has recently re-emerged in political debates over ballot eligibility.
“There is a real and legitimate push to see the insurrectionist Zohran Mamdani either a) removed from the ballot or b) removed from office if he is to win on Tuesday,” said Stefano Forte, president of the New York Young Republican Club.
Several House Republicans are said to be reviewing whether the clause could be enforced through new legislation or congressional action following next week’s election. The idea mirrors the legal arguments used in Colorado last year to try to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot — a move the Supreme Court ultimately overturned, ruling that Congress, not individual states, has the constitutional authority to enforce Section 3.
The Court’s decision has emboldened some GOP lawmakers who believe the ruling effectively places responsibility for such enforcement in the hands of Congress, where Republicans currently hold a narrow 219–213 majority in the House.
According to two congressional aides, Republican leaders may consider holding a post-election vote to declare Mamdani ineligible for office under the clause. Such a measure would face significant procedural and legal hurdles, including a likely filibuster in the Democrat-controlled Senate and near-certain court challenges.
In addition to the potential 14th Amendment challenge, House Republicans are pressuring the Justice Department to review Mamdani’s path to U.S. citizenship, claiming he may have violated the terms of his naturalization oath.Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) sent a letter Monday to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to investigate what he described as “statements inconsistent with the oath of allegiance required of new citizens.” Ogles cited Mamdani’s 2018 naturalization and accused him of “refusal to disavow violent anti-American rhetoric.”
He reiterated those allegations in a post on X, claiming Mamdani “came to the U.S. from Uganda to turn America into an Islamic theocracy.”
In his letter, Ogles argued that Mamdani’s past remarks and political affiliations amount to a “broader pattern of conduct inconsistent with the oath of allegiance.”
He urged the Justice Department to examine whether denaturalization proceedings are warranted, referencing existing immigration law that prohibits membership in communist or totalitarian organizations for new citizens.
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) also joined the campaign, accusing Mamdani of omitting material information from his citizenship application, including membership in the Democratic Socialists of America and comments defending the “Holy Land Five,” a group of Palestinian-American leaders convicted in 2008 for funneling money to Hamas.
“New York City falls to communism next week, and they will have nobody but themselves to blame,” Fine wrote on X, referencing the upcoming mayoral election.
Mamdani, currently a member of the New York State Assembly representing Astoria, Queens, denied the accusations and said Republican lawmakers are trying to weaponize the law against a political opponent.
“No matter how many times these Republican Congress members or the president of this country calls me a Communist, it doesn’t make it true,” Mamdani said in comments to The Post last weekend.
A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed receipt of Ogles’ letter but said responses to congressional correspondence have been delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown.
“The Department does not comment on the status of ongoing or potential investigations,” the spokeswoman said.
To anyone who’s never had a dog: believe me, they have the same soul as we do—just in a different body. When my dogs passed away, I felt their souls leaving. It was devastating. That kind of love never leaves you. Recently, tragedy struck when James William “Will” Warner, a 22-year-old from Shelbyville, Tennessee, was found shot and killed. His girlfriend was also shot but survived with serious injuries.
Will’s mother, Christy Warner, described the moment she found out as a total collapse: “My whole world was broken into a million pieces.” Will was remembered as full of life and deeply loved. His family didn’t even get a chance to say a proper goodbye due to how sudden everything happened. “We were robbed of every bit of closure,” Christy said.
He was buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, surrounded by grieving loved ones—but one moment touched everyone the most. His loyal dog, Ace, laid on the fresh grave, refusing to leave his best friend’s side. That image said everything: dogs love us with a loyalty that goes beyond life itself. Will and Ace shared a deep bond—one that even death couldn’t break.
His uncle, Tennessee state Rep. Todd Warner, called it a senseless tragedy: “It’s a tragic end to something that never should’ve happened.” Rest in peace, Will. You were loved deeply—especially by Ace, who never left your side.
This story reminds us just how powerful the love of a dog can be. All they want is a home—and they will stay loyal until the very end.
Dan Bongino, former Deputy Director of the FBI, has recently posted an alarming update on his official “X” account, revealing a discovery he claims has shaken him to his core.According to Bongino, a vast and secretive level of corruption within the federal government has been uncovered, hinting at a disturbing reality about how the country is being run.In his post, Bongino shared his shock and disbelief after learning of the scale of corruption and political manipulation embedded within key federal institutions.Bongino, a well-known conservative figure and outspoken critic of what he perceives as the weaponization of law enforcement and intelligence operations, detailed his experience in the FBI.“During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening,” he wrote.“The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations. It is a priority for us. But what I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core.”Bongino’s admission that the current state of affairs in the government is unsustainable has raised concerns about the integrity of federal agencies like the FBI, which is meant to serve as an impartial institution dedicated to upholding the law. “We cannot run a Republic like this,” he continued, emphasizing his belief that the federal government is failing the American people in significant ways.
As Bongino went on to explain, the discovery he alluded to comes as part of an ongoing investigation that he and his team have been involved with.He reiterated the importance of conducting these investigations by the book and following the law, promising to uncover the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.He declared, “We are going to conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law. We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not ‘my truth,’ or ‘your truth,’ but THE TRUTH.”This powerful statement echoes a larger sentiment that has been growing in conservative circles: a deep mistrust of the FBI and its alleged role in political and partisan activities.Bongino’s post has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, further fueling discussions about the FBI’s role in political investigations and whether it has become compromised by partisan agendas.Meanwhile, CIA Director John Ratcliffe has made similar claims regarding the ongoing investigations into the so-called Russia collusion narrative.Ratcliffe has revealed that there are more explosive documents awaiting declassification that could shed light on the actions of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other Obama-era officials.These documents reportedly point to the orchestrated spread of the false Russian interference narrative in the 2016 presidential election.
In particular, Ratcliffe highlighted key findings from the Durham report, which examined the investigations into the Clinton-Trump race. According to Ratcliffe, the intelligence community played a central role in amplifying the fake Steele dossier, which served as the basis for the FBI’s investigation into alleged ties between Donald Trump’s campaign and the Kremlin.The CIA director emphasized that these revelations are critical in understanding the full extent of the political machinations at play.Ratcliffe pointed specifically to “underlying intelligence” that is expected to be released soon, stating that it could reveal the true extent of the involvement of top Obama administration officials in the creation and dissemination of the Steele dossier.“What hasn’t come out yet and what’s going to come out is the underlying intelligence that I have spent the last few months making recommendations about final declassification and sent that to the Department of Justice that will come out in the John Durham report classified annex,” Ratcliffe said in an interview.The intelligence, according to Ratcliffe, will highlight a plan by Hillary Clinton to discredit Donald Trump and manipulate the media narrative in her favor.Ratcliffe specifically stated that the FBI, under then-director James Comey, played an active role in advancing the false narrative by “pouring oil on the fire” and amplifying the fake Russian collusion claims.This, according to Ratcliffe, was part of a coordinated effort to create a scandal that would tarnish Trump’s campaign and presidency.The CIA director also suggested that John Brennan, former CIA Director, and other key intelligence figures, including James Clapper and Comey, have been less than truthful in their public testimonies.
According to Ratcliffe, Brennan’s 2020 testimony before Congress, as well as statements made by other intelligence officials, have now been proven to be false.“He also testified to the House Oversight Committee in 2022. Hillary Clinton testified before John Durham under oath in 2022. James Comey testified before the Senate Committee in September 2020,” Ratcliffe noted.These testimonies are now being scrutinized in light of new revelations that suggest these officials were involved in orchestrating a political hoax against Trump.The investigation into the Steele dossier and its role in launching the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign continues to uncover more alarming details.Senior intelligence officials, including Comey and Brennan, have repeatedly denied that the Steele dossier played a central role in their decision to initiate the investigation.However, Ratcliffe’s comments suggest otherwise, as he contends that these officials were fully aware of the dossier’s questionable origins and yet chose to amplify its contents as part of a broader political strategy.The focus now shifts to understanding how these officials conspired to run a hoax and deceive the American public. As the investigation progresses, it is becoming clearer that the FBI’s actions may have been politically motivated and not based on sound intelligence or evidence.Ratcliffe’s comments underscore the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability, particularly given the fact that these actions have had a profound impact on the American political system.
For many, the revelations about the FBI’s role in the Russia collusion investigation have raised significant questions about the agency’s integrity and its ability to operate without political influence.As the country grapples with these findings, there are growing calls for a deeper investigation into the actions of key officials in the FBI, CIA, and other intelligence agencies.The public is demanding transparency and accountability from those who were involved in potentially undermining democracy for political gain.At the center of this investigation is the question of how these individuals, including Clinton, Comey, Brennan, and others, could have conspired to manipulate the narrative surrounding the 2016 election.The idea that a coordinated effort was made to sabotage Trump’s campaign and presidency has sparked outrage among many conservatives and raised concerns about the future of political discourse in the U.S.As the investigation into these actions moves forward, it is clear that the revelations will continue to shake the foundations of the federal government and its intelligence agencies.The truth about what happened during the 2016 election and its aftermath may take years to fully unfold, but it is already clear that significant changes are needed in how intelligence and law enforcement agencies operate in the United States.In the coming months, the release of declassified documents and further testimonies from key figures will provide more clarity on the full extent of the conspiracy against Trump.
As Bongino and Ratcliffe continue to expose the truth, the American people are left to wonder just how deep the corruption runs within the federal government, and what steps will be taken to restore accountability and transparency to the institutions that are supposed to serve the public.