Northern District of New York acting US Attorney John Sarcone convened the grand jury after coordinating with the FBI to launch an investigation into James in May.
One of the subpoenas related to the civil fraud judgment won by the Empire State Attorney General’s Office against Trump, which is still under review by the First Department Appellate Division.
A second subpoena reportedly dealt with the AG’s own probe into the NRA, the New York Times first reported. Other records were also requested.
“Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American,” a spokesperson for the NY AG said in a statement. “We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.”
James had been a fierce critic of the 45th president’s administration and brought the civil case in 2022, claiming that the Trump Organization inflated the value of its real estate holdings to get loans and other financial perks.
“If average New Yorkers went into a bank and submitted false documents, the government would throw the book at them, and the same should be true for former presidents,” the attorney general had said.
The well-placed source did not indicate whether the current US Department of Justice probe included recent claims of mortgage fraud by the AG on properties in Brooklyn and Virginia, which James denied as “baseless.”
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte made the initial referral to the DOJ in April, alleging that James had “falsified records” to also receive favorable loans on a home she purchased in Norfolk in 2023.
The Democratic AG claimed the Virginia property was going to be her “principal residence” while serving as the top prosecutor in New York.
Other records show James misrepresented the number of units for a Brooklyn brownstone she had purchased in 2001, Pulte claimed.
The referral letter indicated that the actions could result in criminal charges — including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the time of Pulte’s letter to the DOJ: “Ms. James, for both properties listed above, appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms.”
James previously accused the 47th president of being on a “revenge tour” since returning to the White House.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the time of Pulte’s letter to the DOJ: “Ms. James, for both properties listed above, appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms.”
The DOJ declined to comment. A rep for James’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.