A conservative-aligned watchdog organization has filed a bar complaint accusing New York Attorney General Letitia James of professional misconduct related to her mortgage on a Norfolk, Virginia, property\u2014issues that were also central to federal criminal charges recently dismissed in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) submitted the complaint to New York\u2019s Attorney Grievance Committee, alleging that James engaged in \u201cillegal and dishonest conduct\u201d when she obtained the mortgage, according to reporting by the New York Post<\/em>. CASA argues that James\u2019 actions potentially violate New York\u2019s Rules of Professional Conduct, which set ethical standards for practicing attorneys in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curtis Schube, CASA\u2019s director of research and policy, emphasized those standards in the group\u2019s four-page filing. \u201cFraud, misrepresentation, honesty and trustworthiness are all factors that the Rules of Professional Conduct expressly consider when weighing whether to discipline an attorney,\u201d he wrote. Schube urged the committee to investigate and, \u201cif by \u2018preponderance of the evidence\u2019 the allegations are substantiated, she should be disciplined accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bar complaint comes just days after a federal judge dismissed criminal indictments against both James and former FBI Director James Comey. Judge Cameron Currie threw out the charges\u2014including bank fraud allegations against James\u2014after determining they were improperly brought by an unqualified U.S. attorney. The dismissal was issued without prejudice<\/em>, allowing the Department of Justice to pursue the charges again if it chooses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n