Cornyn targets New York AG with new 'LETITIA Act' that cracks down on 'crooked politicians'

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn is expected to introduce a bill targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James, for allegedly using her position to increase her personal wealth by allegedly committing mortgage fraud. 

James was accused in May of committing mortgage fraud by claiming two years ago that a residence in Virginia was her primary home, despite serving as the New York attorney general. She has also been accused of understating the number of housing units in a property she owned in Brooklyn in an alleged attempt to get it treated with a better mortgage interest rate.

The legislation, dubbed the LETITIA Act, would create stiffer penalties for public officials who commit federal bank fraud, tax fraud, or loan or mortgage fraud, Fox News reported Monday.

"This legislation would empower President Trump to hold crooked politicians like New York’s Letitia James accountable for defrauding their constituents, violating their oath of office, and breaking the law, and I’m proud to lead my Republican colleagues in introducing it," Cornyn said in a statement.

The legislation, which also comes after California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff was accused of mortgage fraud, would raise the federal statutory maximum sentences and fines for officials who abuse their offices to commit mortgage, tax, bank or loan fraud. 

It would also create new mandatory minimum sentences, including one year for bank fraud, one year for loan or mortgage fraud, and six months for tax fraud. If people commit the fraud more than once, minimum sentences would increase to five years for loan, mortgage and bank fraud and two years for tax fraud.

James and Schiff both deny any wrongdoing, and are innocent until proven guilty.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.