The lawyer, Abbe Lowell, told the Justice Department that allegations against Attorney General Letitia James related to property she owns lacked “any credible foundation.”
A lawyer for New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, sent a lengthy letter to the Justice Department on Thursday, attacking President Trump for “improper political retribution” as the government scrutinizes her real estate transactions.
Abbe Lowell, a high-profile lawyer retained by the attorney general in recent days, was responding to a criminal referral letter sent to the Justice Department last week by Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Mr. Pulte’s letter focused on two houses that Ms. James owns in Virginia and New York. It said that she “appeared to have falsified records” related to the properties, which might have allowed her to receive favorable loan terms.
But Mr. Lowell, in his own letter to Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, said Mr. Pulte’s allegation lacked “any credible foundation.” He characterized them as “the next salvo in President Trump’s revenge tour against Attorney General James.”
“The stunning hypocrisy of President Trump’s complaint that the Justice Department had been ‘politicized’ and ‘weaponized’ against him is laid bare as he and others in his administration are now asking you to undertake the very same practice,” Mr. Lowell wrote to Ms. Bondi.
Abbe Lowell, who represents New York Attorney General Letitia James, wrote this letter to the Justice Department warning it not to attempt political retribution against her.