New York AG Letitia James Hires Hunter Biden’s Former Defense Attorney to Battle Federal Indictment

New York Attorney General Letitia James has retained prominent Washington, D.C. defense attorney Abbe Lowell to represent her against a recent federal indictment accusing her of mortgage fraud. Lowell, known for defending high-profile Democrats including Hunter Biden and former Senator Bob Menendez, is now leading James’ legal defense as she faces serious allegations in Virginia.

James was indicted Thursday in the Eastern District of Virginia on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. Prosecutors allege that when James purchased a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Norfolk, Virginia, in August 2020 for approximately $137,000, she obtained a $109,600 loan by falsely claiming the property would be her primary residence. However, tax documents reportedly listed the home as a rental investment property, from which James earned thousands of dollars, violating loan terms that barred renting.

If convicted, James faces up to 60 years in prison and fines reaching $2 million.

Abbe Lowell is a well-known figure in political legal circles, having represented several prominent Democrats in challenging federal cases. He notably defended Hunter Biden in his gun and tax cases. Biden was convicted in a first trial of illegally possessing a firearm while struggling with substance abuse and later pled guilty to tax evasion charges. In December 2024, President Joe Biden pardoned his son before leaving office.

Lowell also recently represented former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who was convicted in July 2024 of accepting bribes, including gold bars, in exchange for using his office to benefit wealthy individuals and foreign governments. Menendez is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence while appealing his conviction.

Lowell issued a statement defending James, saying she “flatly and forcefully denies these charges.” He expressed concern that the indictment is politically motivated, alleging it is driven by former President Donald Trump’s desire for revenge, referencing James’ previous civil fraud case against Trump.

James hired Lowell in April when the Trump administration began investigating her real estate dealings. The attorney is also representing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who is appealing her firing by the Trump administration over similar mortgage fraud allegations.

Legal experts have noted the difficulty of James’ defense. Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani told *The Post* that the case appears challenging because James’ claims on loan documents about the property’s status “seemed false on its face.” Rahmani stressed that while the prosecution’s decision to bring the case might be debatable, the alleged false statements constitute bank fraud.

Rahmani also noted that federal criminal defense, especially in complex cases, often results in losses due to the high burden of proof, and acquittals are rare.

James’ indictment follows the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, who faces charges for allegedly lying to Congress about his investigation into Trump’s ties with Russia. Both James and Comey have asserted that these prosecutions are retaliatory actions orchestrated by Trump.

James previously won a $355 million lawsuit against Trump, where a New York judge ruled that Trump had inflated his real estate empire’s value to secure favorable loan terms. However, Trump successfully appealed to have the judgment dismissed.

In response to her indictment, James called the charges “nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” accusing Trump of pressuring federal agencies to pursue political enemies.

Comey, who pleaded not guilty, expressed heartbreak over the situation at the Department of Justice. His defense attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, plans to seek dismissal of the indictment citing vindictive prosecution and questioning the appointment of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who is overseeing both James’ and Comey’s cases. Halligan, Trump’s former personal lawyer, was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia last month after the prior U.S. Attorney was removed.

Letitia James is scheduled to make her first court appearance in the case on October 24. As the legal battle unfolds, Abbe Lowell’s involvement signals the seriousness with which James is approaching her defense.

Lowell did not respond to requests for additional comment as of Friday.