Watchdog Files Bar Complaint Against NY Attorney General Letitia James After Indictments Dismissed

A conservative-aligned watchdog group, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), has filed a formal bar complaint with New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee accusing New York Attorney General Letitia James of "illegal and dishonest conduct" in connection with a mortgage on a Norfolk, Virginia, property. The mortgage was central to federal charges that a judge recently dismissed on procedural grounds.

The four-page complaint asserts that James’ actions potentially violate New York’s Rules of Professional Conduct, which govern attorney ethics in the state. Curtis Schube, CASA’s director of research and policy, urged the Committee to investigate and to impose discipline if the allegations are substantiated by a preponderance of the evidence.

"Fraud, misrepresentation, honesty and trustworthiness are all factors that the Rules of Professional Conduct expressly consider when weighing whether to discipline an attorney," Schube wrote in the complaint.

The complaint follows U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie’s decision to dismiss indictments against James and former FBI Director James Comey. Currie found the prosecutor who presented the matters to the grand juries, Lindsey Halligan, had not been properly appointed, rendering the indictments invalid. Currie dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning prosecutors may be able to refile them; the Department of Justice has indicated it will appeal the ruling.

Prosecutors had accused James of falsifying mortgage documents to obtain a $109,600 loan on the Norfolk property and of making false statements to a financial institution. Investigators alleged she claimed the property as her principal residence in 2023 while serving as a public official in New York.

James has denied any criminal intent, saying she made an error on a form related to the home purchase, corrected it, and never attempted to deceive the lender. CASA is now asking New York disciplinary authorities to determine whether the conduct described in the federal filings warrants professional sanctions separate from the criminal process.

Background on the appointment dispute: The appointment question arose after interim U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert’s term ended. According to filings, Halligan—who previously worked as a White House aide and as an insurance lawyer—was recommended by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to replace Siebert. Judge Currie, brought in from South Carolina to avoid conflicts for Virginia judges, concluded the interim appointment process had not been properly completed.

What happens next: The Attorney Grievance Committee may open an inquiry, which could lead to a range of outcomes if misconduct is found, from a reprimand to suspension of license. Separately, the DOJ’s appeal could affect whether criminal charges are refiled. Both processes are independent: disciplinary action examines professional conduct, while any criminal retrial would address criminal culpability.

Neither James’ office nor CASA has publicly provided an immediate comment in response to the complaint.