New York Attorney General Letitia James is caught in a whirlwind of controversy over a Virginia home, a fugitive grandniece, and federal charges that could land her behind bars for decades.
This messy saga in Norfolk, Virginia, ties James to her grandniece Nakia Thompson’s criminal escapades while federal prosecutors accuse James of fibbing on a mortgage application for a property where Thompson resides rent-free.
Let’s rewind to Thompson’s troubled past in North Carolina, where her rap sheet started piling up as early as 2006 with charges like assault on government officials and larceny. By 2008, she faced bond forfeiture issues, and in 2011, she pleaded guilty to assaulting an official and resisting arrest, earning a 60-day jail stint. Her failure to comply with parole terms after that landed her on North Carolina’s absconder list.
Thompson didn’t stop there—traffic violations in 2011, including driving without a license, added to her legal woes when she skipped a court hearing. Fast forward to her move to Virginia, and the trouble followed like a shadow, with arrests for everything from grand larceny to possession of burglary tools. By 2020, she was pleading guilty to felony larceny charges, slapped with probation, and had over $2,000 in fees.
Recent years haven’t been kinder to Thompson, with nine vehicle offenses in Virginia, including a reckless 80 mph in a 55 mph zone in the summer of 2023. Just last year, she racked up four citations in one day and even got fined for improper child restraint. It’s a pattern of disregard that raises eyebrows about who’s keeping tabs on her.
Now, enter the Norfolk home, purchased by James in August 2020 for $137,000 and now valued at a cool $235,000. Thompson has been living there since 2020 with her kids, claiming to a federal grand jury that she pays no rent. That’s a curious arrangement for a property at the heart of a federal indictment.
Here’s where it gets sticky: federal prosecutors allege James lied on her mortgage application, signing a document claiming the house as a second personal residence she wouldn’t rent out. Yet, in a state financial disclosure that same year, she listed it as an investment property—quite the contradiction for someone in her position. Critics are asking: Was this a deliberate dodge to snag a better mortgage rate?
The indictment, filed by U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia, claims James has had paying tenants in the home despite her signed pledge. If convicted of bank fraud and making false claims, she’s staring down a potential 60-year prison sentence. That’s not a small oops for a public official championing accountability.
James has pushed back against the scrutiny, declaring, “We see powerful voices trying to silence truth and punish dissent and weaponize justice for political gain,” as reported by various outlets. Nice rhetoric, but it sidesteps the core issue—did she misrepresent the purpose of this property to a financial institution? The public deserves straight answers, not deflections.
Meanwhile, Thompson’s status as a fugitive adds another layer of intrigue, with North Carolina labeling her an absconder for dodging probation supervision. A spokesperson from the North Carolina Department of Corrections noted, “Ms. Thompson is listed as an absconder for willfully avoiding supervision by her probation officer.” If caught back in her home state, she faces arrest and possible activation of a suspended sentence.
That same spokesperson clarified, “She was sentenced to probation for misdemeanor convictions for assault and battery and trespassing.” They added, “Due to the level of the offenses, the district attorney has designated this case non-extraditable.” Still, it’s a glaring question—why is someone with this record comfortably settled in a home tied to a high-profile official?
Some sources, as reported by the New York Times, claim James has spent extended periods at the Norfolk property herself. If true, it muddies the water further on whether this was ever truly just a “second home” as she claimed on paper. The optics here aren’t exactly screaming transparency.
For conservatives, this story fuels a broader concern about accountability among progressive leaders who often lecture others on ethics. James, a prominent figure in New York’s legal landscape, now faces accusations that strike at the heart of personal and professional integrity. It’s hard to ignore the irony when law-and-order champions seem to skirt the rules themselves.
Let’s be fair—everyone deserves their day in court, and James hasn’t been convicted yet. But the mounting evidence, from Thompson’s unchecked residency to the mortgage discrepancies, demands serious scrutiny. The American public, tired of double standards, will be watching closely to see if justice applies equally, no matter one’s title.
