NY AG Letitia James’ Virginia Mortgage Document Witnessed by Top Staff as Federal Investigation Looms

This article continues our investigative series examining New York Attorney General Letitia James’ property transactions and sworn statements.

Senior Officials from Attorney General’s Office Witnessed Declaration During Critical Period Before Trump Fraud Trial

When New York Attorney General Letitia James signed a sworn legal document declaring her intent to make a Virginia home her “principal residence,” she wasn’t alone. Two senior officials from her own office—including her First Deputy Attorney General—acted as witnesses, raising critical ethical and legal questions about state resources, residency qualifications, and misuse of official authority. These staffers will likely face interviews as federal authorities investigate potential mortgage fraud. This declaration came just 45 days before James launched her landmark civil fraud case against Donald Trump, and would have required her to establish Virginia residency during the trial.

The document in question, a Specific Power of Attorney signed on August 17, 2023, contained this unambiguous statement:

“I HEREBY DECLARE that I intend to occupy this property as my principal residence.”

This was no routine witnessing of a signature. Jennifer Levy—James’ First Deputy Attorney General and lead attorney in the Trump civil fraud case—signed as a witness to the document. The second witness, Sharona Parchment, also works for the AG’s Office. Both listed New York addresses but witnessed a document containing a declaration that could legally undermine James’ status as a New York resident.

Unlike typical transactions, where neutral parties serve as witnesses, James relied on her own government legal team. These weren’t notaries at a closing—they were senior AG staff swearing to a document that enabled their boss’s private mortgage. The financial benefits were substantial: lower interest rates, minimal down payments versus the higher requirements for investment properties, more favorable debt-to-income ratios, and less stringent underwriting standards.

Additionally, James did not disclose this mortgage on her 2023 New York financial disclosure form, despite state ethics laws requiring the reporting of such liabilities. This omission raises questions about compliance with financial disclosure requirements.

The Virginia declaration fits an unmistakable pattern. At her Brooklyn property, James repeatedly listed a legally classified five-unit building as having four, three, or even as few as one family unit. Each misrepresentation enabled access to more favorable mortgage terms unavailable to properties with five or more units—classified as commercial under federal lending rules.

Senior Staff Involvement: Documented Facts

The involvement of Jennifer Levy is especially significant. As First Deputy Attorney General and a key figure in the Trump fraud case, her presence as a witness on this document is a matter of public record.

The official records show that Levy and Parchment witnessed James’ signature on the Power of Attorney. As witnesses, their role was to verify that James signed the document. The witnessing of a signature is a standard legal formality that establishes the authenticity of the signer’s identity.

The following facts are documented in the public record:

1. Official Capacity: Both witnesses were employees of the New York Attorney General’s Office
2. Document Content: The Power of Attorney contained a clear declaration of intent to make Virginia the principal residence
3. Public Filing: The document was notarized and filed as part of the mortgage transaction
4. New York Addresses: Both witnesses provided their New York addresses on the document

The Power of Attorney and Its Implications

The Power of Attorney authorized James’ relative, Shamice Thompson-Hairston, to act on her behalf in purchasing 604 Sterling Street in Norfolk, Virginia. The property was purchased for $240,000 with a $219,780 mortgage on August 30, 2023.

The mortgage required both James and Thompson-Hairston to make the property their principal residence within 60 days of closing—by approximately October 30, 2023—and maintain it for at least one year.

Attorney Abbe Lowell’s defense claims the principal residence declaration was simply a “mistake.” However, this ignores a crucial reality: The Power of Attorney wasn’t some peripheral document—it was the legal lynchpin that enabled the mortgage transaction to close. This document was sworn and notarized, explicit in its principal residence declaration, recorded with the mortgage, and never corrected or amended in any way.

Most critically, this Power of Attorney was the basis for the entire mortgage underwriting. The loan terms explicitly required BOTH James and her relative to establish the property as their principal residence within 60 days of closing (by approximately October 30, 2023). The financial institution relied on these specific occupancy declarations to approve the loan.

Further undermining any claims of genuine residence intent: Neither James nor her co-borrower ever filed a homestead exemption for the Sterling Street property, despite this being a standard protective measure that any Virginia homeowner would typically pursue.

The Timing Raises Further Questions

The timing of this document is particularly significant:

• August 17, 2023: James signs the Power of Attorney declaring intent to make Virginia property her principal residence, witnessed by two AG staff members
• October 2, 2023: Trump fraud trial begins in Manhattan with James as the central figure
• By October 30, 2023: According to mortgage terms, James was required to be living in Virginia

Between August and October 2023, James appeared in press conferences, court filings, and official functions across New York—there is no public record of any move to Virginia. Throughout this period, public records and appearances show James remained in New York, actively performing her duties as Attorney General. This creates an apparent contradiction between her sworn declaration and her actions.

This contradiction is now part of an active federal investigation. On April 14, 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency formally referred James to the Department of Justice for potential mortgage fraud and perjury—based in part on this declaration. Federal investigators will likely examine all aspects of the transaction, including:

1. 1. The setting where the document was signed
   2. The witnesses’ formal role in the transaction
   3. How the Power of Attorney was used in securing the mortgage
   4. Whether proper boundaries between personal and official matters were maintained

When the state’s top law enforcement office blurs the lines between personal gain and public duty, it doesn’t just erode public trust—it invites potential criminal liability.

As with our previous reporting, we will continue to follow this story and report on any further developments.

Written by,

Sam Antar

© 2025 Sam Antar. All rights reserved.