Indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James Reportedly Sheltered Fugitive Grandniece in Virginia Property for Five Years, Raising Fresh Legal and Political Questions
New York Attorney General Letitia James, already under federal indictment, is facing new controversy after reports revealed that she has been housing her fugitive grandniece, Nakia Thompson, in her Virginia home for nearly five years. According to court and property records obtained by the New York Post, Thompson and her three children have been living in James’ three-bedroom Norfolk property since 2020 — the same house that is at the center of James’ ongoing mortgage fraud case.
Thompson is listed by North Carolina authorities as an “absconder,” meaning she fled supervision after being placed on probation for misdemeanor convictions, including assault and trespassing. Law enforcement officials confirm she remains wanted for violating her probation in Forsyth County, North Carolina, but because the offenses are classified as minor, her status is considered non-extraditable — allowing her to reside out of state without immediate arrest.
The revelation has sparked outrage and fresh scrutiny over how a state attorney general, herself under indictment, could simultaneously house a fugitive relative while maintaining her top law enforcement position. The Norfolk home, prosecutors say, was purchased through misleading mortgage filings that misrepresented the property as James’ “second home.” Records show she signed a “Second Home Rider,” a clause that specifically prohibited her from renting or leasing it. However, investigators allege she rented it out to relatives instead, saving nearly $19,000 in reduced interest payments over time.
James has strongly denied all wrongdoing, calling the indictment politically motivated and orchestrated by opponents seeking revenge for her high-profile legal battles against former President Donald Trump. In a statement last week, she claimed the case was “a baseless attack on justice,” asserting that her financial records were fully transparent and above board.
But critics argue the optics are deeply damaging. Housing a relative classified as a fugitive under North Carolina law could create a new layer of ethical and political exposure. “It’s hard to defend the nation’s laws while ignoring them in your own family,” one legal analyst told the New York Post. Republican commentators have seized on the news, calling it another example of double standards within the justice system.
Thompson, who has lived quietly in the Virginia home since early 2020, reportedly told acquaintances that she “needed a place to restart her life.” Neighbors described her as “polite but private,” with most unaware of her fugitive status until the reports surfaced this week. Local officials in Norfolk confirmed that no law enforcement agency in Virginia had been notified of Thompson’s probation violation status, as North Carolina authorities do not extradite misdemeanor absconders across state lines.
The controversy compounds James’ growing legal troubles. Federal prosecutors allege she falsified loan applications to secure better mortgage terms, claiming the Norfolk property was for “personal use” while allegedly concealing its function as a rental or family residence. The case, filed earlier this month, accuses her of mortgage fraud, false statements, and ethics violations.
Political fallout has been swift. Opponents of James, including several conservative figures, argue the scandal further undermines her credibility after years of using her office to pursue political rivals. “This is the same Letitia James who promised to bring down Donald Trump,” one GOP strategist said. “Now she’s the one facing indictments, property fraud claims, and a fugitive hiding in her house. It’s hypocrisy at the highest level.”
Despite the backlash, James has not publicly addressed the new report about Thompson. Her legal team insists she has complied with all property laws and says her family members’ presence in the home is “a private matter unrelated to the case.” However, with her next court appearance scheduled for late October, this revelation is expected to play a major role in shaping both the legal and public narrative around her already controversial career.
The unfolding scandal leaves the New York Attorney General’s office under a cloud of uncertainty. What began as an investigation into questionable property filings has now evolved into a broader political and ethical crisis, raising questions about judgment, accountability, and the blurred line between public duty and private choices.
