FILE - New York Attorney General, Letitia James, speaks after pleading not guilty outside the United States District Court on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/John Clark,File)
The judge overseeing New York Attorney General Letitia James’ mortgage fraud case denied a motion on Friday that sought to compel federal prosecutors to keep a log of all their communications with the media.
The motion was filed last week by defense attorney Abbe Lowell, following James’ arraignment on charges of bank fraud and making false statements. The request came in response to reports that U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had sent a series of encrypted Signal messages about the case to a reporter.
In a detailed six-page order, U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker stated, “[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.” He added, “The defendant’s request that the government be required to keep a communication log is DENIED.”
Judge Walker acknowledged that Halligan’s Signal conversation earlier this month with Anna Bower, senior editor at Lawfare, was “unusual.” However, the judge refrained from commenting on whether the communications were improper, legally or ethically.
While ordering federal prosecutors to comply with all court rules, Judge Walker did not suggest any violations had occurred. He also imposed a “litigation hold” to prevent the deletion or destruction of any records or communications related to the investigation or prosecution of the case.
It is notable that Halligan’s Signal messages to Bower were set to disappear after eight hours. However, the judge declined to rule on whether a specific message from Halligan — which cast doubt on a New York Times report about James’ grandniece testifying before a grand jury — constituted discoverable material.
“The Court is not persuaded that preservation of evidence related to the government’s communications requires such evidence be maintained in any particular form,” Walker wrote. “The defendant does not demonstrate that a communication log is necessary, so the Court will not order the government to maintain one.”
Judge Walker concluded his order by stating, “The Court trusts that counsel on both sides will comply with this Order without further handholding.”
Federal prosecutors had requested that Judge Walker impose a gag order on Letitia James in response to her motion, but he declined to do so.
James pleaded not guilty last week to one count each of bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution.
According to the indictment, James purchased a three-bedroom, one-bathroom residence on Peronne Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia, with a $109,600 loan on August 17, 2020. The loan included a second home rider that designated James as the “sole borrower to occupy and use the property.” This designation allowed James to receive more favorable mortgage terms, saving her nearly $19,000.
Prosecutors allege that James did not occupy or use the home herself. Instead, the property was used as a rental investment to house her grandniece, Nakia Thompson.
If convicted on both counts, Letitia James faces up to 60 years in prison and fines totaling up to $2 million.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/31/us-news/judge-hands-doj-win-in-letitia-james-mortgage-fraud-case/
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