A conservative-leaning watchdog organization, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), has lodged a formal complaint against New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The complaint alleges professional misconduct related to her mortgage in Norfolk, Virginia. These allegations echo the recently dismissed federal charges against James.
As reported by Fox News, CASA submitted the complaint to the state's Attorney Grievance Committee, accusing James of "illegal and dishonest conduct" concerning her mortgage. The group's allegations suggest that James' actions could potentially violate the state's Rules of Professional Conduct, which set the ethical standards for New York lawyers.
Curtis Schube, CASA's director of research and policy, wrote in the complaint, "Fraud, misrepresentation, honesty and trustworthiness are all factors that the Rules of Professional Conduct expressly consider when weighing whether to discipline an attorney." He added, "The Committee, therefore, should immediately investigate the allegations against James and, if by preponderance of the evidence the allegations are substantiated, she should be disciplined accordingly."
Earlier this week, a federal judge dismissed the indictments against James and former FBI Director James Comey. The judge ruled that the charges were invalid as they were brought by an unqualified U.S. attorney. The bank fraud charges against James and the false statements charges against Comey were dismissed without prejudice, indicating that the charges could be reintroduced.
In response to the dismissal, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the Department of Justice plans to appeal. "We believe the attorney in this case, Lindsey Halligan, is not only extremely qualified for this position, but she was in fact legally appointed," Leavitt said. "And I know the Department of Justice will be appealing this in very short order."
Judge Cameron Currie, a Clinton appointee based in South Carolina, was brought in from out of state to oversee proceedings about the question of Halligan's authority. This was due to a conflict of interest for the Virginia judges. The challenges to Halligan's appointment by Comey and James were consolidated due to their similarity.
Halligan, a former White House aide and insurance lawyer, was the one to present charges to the grand juries shortly after Trump dismissed the previous interim U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert. Trump then urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to replace Siebert with Halligan. Bondi complied, but Currie found that Siebert's interim U.S. attorney term had already expired and that the Virginia judges were now responsible for appointing a temporary U.S. attorney until Trump could get one confirmed in the Senate.
James was indicted on Oct. 9 for allegedly falsifying mortgage documents to secure a $109,600 loan on the property. She was also charged with making false statements to a financial institution. James, a second-term Democrat, was accused of claiming the property as her principal residence in 2023 despite holding public office in New York at that time.
James has denied any wrongdoing. She previously stated that she made an error while filling out a form related to the home purchase but corrected it. She emphasized that she never attempted to deceive the lender.
Fox News Digital reached out to both the New York attorney generals office and CASA, but did not immediately receive a response. Fox News Ashley Oliver and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
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