Hunter Biden's $855/Hour Lawyer Now Shields Letitia James from Fraud Claims

Paul Riverbank, 4/25/2025New York AG James hires Hunter Biden's expensive lawyer to fight mortgage fraud claims.
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The Political Undertones of New York AG's Legal Defense

In what could be described as an ironic twist in New York's political theater, Attorney General Letitia James has turned to Hunter Biden's defense attorney to fight her own legal battles. The move raises intriguing questions about the intersection of legal strategy and political messaging in modern American politics.

I've watched countless political figures navigate similar waters, but James's situation stands out. Her office – not James personally – has retained Abbe Lowell, a legal heavyweight who charges north of $800 per hour, to counter mortgage fraud allegations. The choice is telling: Lowell isn't just any attorney; he's the go-to counsel for political figures in hot water.

Let's be clear about what's at stake here. The allegations from Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte center on James's property dealings – specifically, questions about her primary residence and a Brooklyn property's unit count. But the timing and nature of these accusations suggest something more complex at play.

Having covered political investigations for over two decades, I can't help but notice the familiar dance of accusation and counter-accusation. Lowell's response was swift and characteristic of his style – he fired back with a letter to AG Pam Bondi, painting the accusations as politically motivated. He pointed to what he called a simple mistake in an August power of attorney document, contrasting it with earlier paperwork where James had explicitly stated the property wouldn't be her primary residence.

The political undertones here are impossible to ignore. Sources at the Times Union suggest the AG's office sees these allegations as blowback from James's civil fraud lawsuit against former President Trump. It's a pattern we've seen before – legal actions becoming weapons in broader political battles.

What makes this situation particularly noteworthy is the cast of characters involved. Lowell's client list reads like a bipartisan Who's Who: Hunter Biden, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Bob Menendez. His involvement suggests James's team is preparing for a fight that could have implications far beyond New York's borders.

The core allegations themselves deserve scrutiny. Claims about James's Virginia property and questions about a Brooklyn building's unit count since 2001 might seem straightforward, but in the current political climate, nothing is simple. I've seen similar accusations used as political leverage countless times, though rarely against a sitting state attorney general.

From my vantage point, this case exemplifies how legal and political realms have become increasingly intertwined. The involvement of a attorney like Lowell, who successfully defended John Edwards and Bob Menendez against federal corruption charges, suggests we're watching more than just a simple property dispute unfold.

As this story develops, we'll need to keep our eyes on both the legal proceedings and the political ripples they create. In today's charged environment, even seemingly straightforward allegations can have far-reaching consequences for our political landscape.