Top officials from the Trump administration are urging federal prosecutors in Virginia to pursue charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud. This comes despite a five-month investigation that has reportedly found insufficient evidence to support such claims.

Federal prosecutors have interviewed over a dozen witnesses but have not uncovered clear evidence that James knowingly made false statements to secure favorable mortgage terms for her Virginia home. Sources familiar with the investigation indicate that the document in question, a limited power of attorney form, was not considered by the loan officers who approved the mortgage. This form was used by James' niece to sign documents on her behalf during the home closing process.

Ed Martin, head of the Department of Justice's Weaponization Working Group, and Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, have been particularly vocal in their push for an indictment. After prosecutors declined to pursue charges, Pulte suggested that Trump should replace the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Eric Siebert, with someone more willing to bring charges against James.

The investigation into James, who previously brought a civil fraud case against Trump, has raised concerns about political motivations behind the push for charges. Pulte and Martin allege that James committed mortgage fraud by misrepresenting her Virginia home as her primary residence. However, investigators have found that all other documents in her loan file accurately indicated that she would not reside at the property.

James has denied any wrongdoing. Her attorney, Abbe Lowell, criticized the criminal referral as "three pages of stale, threadbare allegations" and described it as part of Trump's ongoing campaign against her. "Any impartial and non-political inquiry would conclude Attorney General James did not violate any laws managing her properties," Lowell stated.

The investigation has also drawn attention to other officials, including Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, who have faced similar allegations of mortgage fraud. Martin is also looking into James regarding a New York property, and federal prosecutors in Albany have issued subpoenas related to her civil fraud case against Trump and her corruption case against the National Rifle Association.

Despite the lack of evidence in the Virginia investigation, Martin has taken steps to publicize the allegations against James. He even sent her a letter suggesting she resign from her position as attorney general, claiming it would benefit the state and the nation. Martin's actions have been criticized as counterproductive to the investigation.

The ongoing scrutiny of James has highlighted divisions within the DOJ and raised questions about the motivations of Trump administration officials. Pulte and Martin have been at the forefront of these investigations, with Pulte issuing criminal referral letters based on media reports alleging that James falsified records to obtain favorable loan terms.

The allegations against James include claims that she misrepresented her residency status and the number of rooms in her Brooklyn home. Pulte has publicly stated that he believes James is guilty of mortgage fraud, equating her actions to those of Trump in his civil fraud case.

The investigation into James began shortly after Trump took office, with the creation of a "Weaponization Working Group" to examine alleged federal cooperation targeting Trump and his businesses. The situation continues to evolve as the Trump administration's scrutiny of James and other officials raises concerns about political retribution.