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Joshua J. Friedman

@joshuajfriedman.com

180K followers 3.9K following 60K posts

Freelance writer and editor. Formerly of The Atlantic, Boston Review. Copy chief at Columbia Magazine.

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · Oct 26

Welcome, new Bluesky users! Please check out the thread below for tips on setting up your account, making your feed more interesting, finding old Twitter friends, search, privacy, stats, and more (and please ask questions if you have them)

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · Oct 17

🦋 WELCOME TO BLUESKY! I recommend exploring our custom feeds, which are a little like hashtags but more interesting. We have them for academic and professional subjects, sports, cities, hobbies (e.g., gardening, baking), and many more. Search them in the sidebar under Feeds. 🧵

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muscular baby jeb lund @mobute.bsky.social · 13h

Is this the Hallmark debut of the makeup term "plumper" and updating a busboy on the progress of where your husband's semen currently is in your reproductive system? It is for us, and @davidjroth.bsky.social and I are going to make it your problem.

It's Christmastown @itschristmastown.bsky.social · 13h

It turns out the horniest Hallmark movie ever is an avalanche safety video where an unbearable manchild no-sells a woman's competency and outsources dumping strumpets to his daughter on the way to a night of live music by "Melvin."
Apple: bit.ly/42v4vsG
Spotify: bit.ly/42zqYVo
Amazon: bit.ly/4q3QoV0

139 - Snow Crashing the Joe Morgan Moneyball Universe

YouTube video by It's Christmastown

www.youtube.com

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2h

A passing mention of this second Letitia James property in Norfolk, Virginia, in an ABC News piece from September: abcnews.go.com/US/trump-off...

While Martin is examining whether another property owned by James in Virginia was inconsistently described as both "second home" and an "investment property," sources said senior DOJ leadership believes Martin would be unable to prove any allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, in part because Fannie Mae guidelines on the issue are too vague.

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2h

It's hard to know for certain without more information, but I tend to see the second half of paragraph 6 more as a drafting error than an allegation. The transition from 6 to 7 makes more sense if you just read that passage out of the indictment. (But heaven knows what they were going for.)

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Kate Klonick @klonick.bsky.social · 2h

Nothing makes me feel more patriotic than the natural beauty of this country.

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2h

It made more sense at the time of the prizes' creation, when Norway and Sweden were a united kingdom!

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2h

Yes, it's hard to make sense of the (poorly drafted) charges without further information. For example, it's not clear to me what paperwork choices are alleged to have determined the mortgage rate.

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Corby Kummer @ckummer.bsky.social · 3h

"The technique is what matters; gentle heat, a whisper of oil and a patient wrist. Not a chemical barrier."
As for cleanup in a seasoned non-Teflon pan? "A little hot water, a quick brush, a swipe of oil — that’s it."
Good sense from @andrewzimmern:

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Opinion | Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans

www.nytimes.com

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 3h

I believe the facts you're thinking of relate to a different property (see below). The alleged issue here isn't primary residence vs. secondary residence but secondary residence vs. investment/rental property.

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 5h

Today's Letitia James indictment appears to relate to a *different* property in Norfolk, Virginia, from the one that was the subject of Bill Pulte's April "criminal referral" letter.

While Pulte described a property in zip 23505 bought in 2023, the indictment refers to one in 23509 bought in 2020.

Norfolk, VA 23505
On August 17, 2023, Ms. James granted Ms. Shamice Thompson-Hairston power of attorney to make a Virginia property her "principal residence." See Exhibit A. And on August 30 and 31, 2023, through her attorney, Ms. James purchased this property in Norfolk, VA. In a Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Form 3047 and in mortgage documents, she reaffirmed this would be her primary residence, despite being a statewide public office holder in the state of New York at that same time and primarily residing in the state of New York. See Exhibit B.
In fact, a building permit issued on her New York property on July 15, 2024 lists her New
York property as the "JAMES RESIDENCE" and states "Remain Occupied":

Primary residence mortgages receive more favorable loan terms, including lower interest rates, than secondary residence mortgages. Lenders view secondary residence mortgages as significantly riskier, as a borrower is more likely to continue paying off a primary residence mortgage during any financial hardship. Interest rates on secondary residence mortgages are typically between 0.25-0.50% higher than their primary residence counterparts; however, this gap can widen depending on the lender. At the time of the 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase and mortgage, Ms. James was the siting Attorney General of New York and is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York-even though her mortgage applications list her intent to have the Norfolk, VA property as her primary home. It appears Ms. James' property and mortgage-related misrepresentations may have continued to her recent 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase in order to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable loan terms.

5. On or about August 17, 2020, JAMES, as sole borrower, purchased the three (3) bedroom,
(1) bathroom property located at 3121 Peronne Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23509 (the
'Peronne Property"), for approximately $137,000, financed with a mortgage loan of approximately $109,600 (Loan #4430025978) backed by Fannie Mae.
6. The loan was originated by OVM Financial under a signed Second Home Rider, which
required JAMES, as the sole borrower to occupy and use the property as her secondary residence, and prohibited its use as a timesharing or other shared ownership arrangement or agreement that requires her either to rent the property or give any other person any control over the occupancy or use of the property.
7. Despite these representations, the Peronne Property was not occupied or used by JAMES as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property, renting the
property to a family of (3).

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 3h

So glad to have helped bring these pleasures into your life!

Reposted by Joshua J. Friedman

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 4h

The issue is important not only to Abrego's case, but also in the context of expected vindictive prosecution motions from James Comey and Letitia James.

bsky.app/profile/anna...

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 4h

Important discovery fight taking shape in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal case.

The question: Can the government assert privilege to avoid handing over documents that may be relevant to a defendant's vindictive prosecution claim?

Abrego's counsel says no.

www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

www.documentcloud.org

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Mirya R. Holman @mirya.bsky.social · 4h

The guy next to me at the airport is on his fourth bag of gummy candy and I don't know if I've ever felt this level of envy

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 4h

Just saw Justice Breyer on a train grabbing a snack. A man of the people.

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 5h

Hi, Marty! Yes, it starts at p. 16 here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 5h

Pulte letter: s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Indictment:

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6h

NEW: Here's the two-count indictment against NY AG Letitia James. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

INDICTMENT
October 2025 Term - at Alexandria, Virginia
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES THAT:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
At all times relevant to this Indictment:
1. Letitia A. James ("JAMES) was a resident of Brooklyn, New York, and the borrower on a
Fannie Mae-backed mortgage loan for the property located at 3121 Peronne Avenue,
Norfolk, Virginia.
2. OVM Financial (also known as Old Virginia Mortgage / AnnieMac) was a mortgage lending business located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, engaged in the business of originating and underwriting residential mortgage loans, including those backed by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"). OVM Financial qualified as a "financial institution" within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 20(10).
3. Fannie Mae was a federally chartered corporation that purchased and guaranteed mortgages,
operating as a government-sponsored enterprise under the oversight of the Federal Housing

Finance Agency ("FHFA").
4. First Savings Bank was a state-chartered, FDIC-insured financial institution (Certificate
#29961), headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which acquired mortgage loans through assignment or acquisition. First Savings Bank qualified as a "financial institution" within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 20(1).
5. On or about August 17, 2020, JAMES, as sole borrower, purchased the three (3) bedroom,
(1) bathroom property located at 3121 Peronne Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23509 (the
"Peronne Property"), for approximately $137,000, financed with a mortgage loan of approximately $109,600 (Loan #4430025978) backed by Fannie Mae.
6. The loan was originated by OVM Financial under a signed Second Home Rider, which required JAMES, as the sole borrower to occupy and use the property as her secondary residence, and prohibited its use as a timesharing or other shared ownership arrangement or agreement that requires her either to rent the property or give any other person any control over the occupancy or use of the property.
7. Despite these representations, the Peronne Property was not occupied or used by JAMES as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property, renting the property to a family of (3).
8. This misrepresentation allowed JAMES to obtain favorable loan terms not available for investment properties, including a note rate of 3.000% (avoiding a 0.815% higher
comparable investment property rate of 3.815%, resulting in approximately $17,837 in rate savings over the life of the loan), a seller credit of approximately $3,288 (exceeding the seller credit for investment properties by approximately $1,096), for total ill-gotten gains of approximately $18,933 over the life of the loan.
9. JAMES' Universal Property application for homeowners' insurance indicated "owner-

occupied non-seasonal use," further misrepresenting the intended use of the property.
10. JAMES filed Schedule E tax forms), under penalties of perjury, treating the Perrone Property as rental real estate, reporting fair rental days, zero personal use days, thousand(s)
of dollars in rents received, and claiming deductions for expenses relating to the property, further contradicting the second home classification.
11. The loan was acquired by or assigned to First Savings Bank by March 2021, exposing it to risks associated with the misrepresented loan.
12. The acts described herein occurred within the Eastern District of Virginia.
COUNT ONE
(Bank Fraud - 18 U.S.C. § 1344)
13. The allegations in paragraphs 1 through 12 are re-alleged and incorporated herein.
14. From on or about August 7, 2020, through at least January 2024, in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere, the Defendant, LETITIA A. JAMES, did knowingly execute and attempt to execute a scheme and artifice to defraud OVM Financial and First Savings Bank,
financial institutions, and to obtain moneys, funds, and credits owned by and under the custody and control of OVM Financial and First Savings Bank by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
15. The scheme involved falsely representing the Peronne Property as a secondary residence to obtain favorable mortgage terms, while using it as an investment property with no intended
or actual personal occupancy or use by her.
(In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344).
COUNT TWO
(False Statements to a Financial Institution - 18 U.S.C. § 1014)
16. The allegations in paragraphs 1 through 12 are re-alleged and incorporated herein.

17. From on or about July 28, 2020, through at least August 31, 2020, in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere, the Defendant, LETITIA A. JAMES, did knowingly make and cause to be made false statements and reports for the purpose of influencing the action of OVM Financial, a Fannie Mae-backed lender, upon an application for a loan, in that JAMES represented and affirmed in uniform residential loan applications and related documents that
the Peronne Property would be used as a secondary residence, when in truth and fact, as JAMES then knew, the property was intended and used as an investment property with no intended or actual personal occupancy or use by her.
(In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014).
FORFEITURE NOTICE
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(a) and Title 18, U.S.C. §
982(a)(2)(A), upon conviction of the offenses in Counts One and Two, the Defendant, Letitia
A. James, shall forfeit to the United States any property constituting, or derived from, proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of such violations, including but not limited to a money judgment in the amount of $18,933.
If any of the property described above, as a result of any act or omission of the Defendant: (a) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence; (b) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party; (c) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court; (d) has been substantially diminished in value; or (e) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty, the United States shall be entitled to a forfeiture of substitute property pursuant to Title 21, U.S.C. § 853(b), as incorporated by Title
18 U.S.C. § 982(b)(1).
(In accordance with Title 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) and 982(a)(1); Title 28, U.S.C. § 2461(c); and Title 21 U.S.C. § 853(p).)

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 5h

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Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 6h

#BREAKING Federal judge in Chicago temporarily blocks the Trump administration from "ordering the federalization and deployment of the National Guard of the United States within Illinois."

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 6h

Perry says the order will say defendants are "temporarily enjoined from ordering the federalization and deployment of the National Guard of the United States within Illinois."

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Blue Heron Farm @blueheronfarm.bsky.social · 7h

Sad Milton is sad

Cream colored Corgi mix with a giant cone around his head

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Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 6h

Eight of these Senators represent states that directly voted post Dobbs to codify abortion access in their constitutions, or blocked anti-abortion measures. But now they’re demanding federal restrictions

(KS: Marshall, Moran; MO: Hawley, Schmitt; MT: Daines, Sheehy; OH: Moreno, Husted)

Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 9h

NEW: 51 Senators urge RFK Jr. and Marty Makary to end telemedicine prescriptions of the abortion drug mifepristone— and to suspend its distribution as an "imminent hazard" under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Collins and Murkowski only GOP members not to sign
justthenews.com/sites/defaul...

screenshot of letter dated 10/9/25
Today, your agencies have all the information they need to bring an end to previous Democrat-administrations’ abortion drug regulations while a comprehensive review is conducted. As a starting point,
we recommend the following:
1. Suspend the approval of any new generic versions of mifepristone pending the outcome of the REMS safety review;
2. Commit to ensuring that all generic versions of mifepristone are included in the ongoing reevaluation of prior REMS approvals;
3. Reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone and all its generic versions;
4. Suspend the distribution of mifepristone and all generic versions as an “imminent hazard” under Section 505(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); and
5. Withdraw FDA guidance permitting pharmacy distribution of mifepristone and all its generic versions.

We are committed to continuing to work together to give a voice to the voiceless and protect women from the dangerous effects of unregulated access to chemical abortion drugs. The life, safety, freedom, and health of millions of Americans, born and unborn, depend on it.

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Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 6h

U.S. District Judge April Perry says it comes down to a "credibility determination."

"I simply cannot credit [the Trump administration's] declarations to the extent they contradict state and local law enforcement. … DHS' perception of events are simply unreliable."

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 6h

#BREAKING A federal judge say she will grant "in part" a request by the state of Illinois for a temporary restraining order against the deployment of National Guard troops into the state.

U.S. District Judge April Perry is still ruling and has not outlined the details of her order.

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 6h

Perry: "I'm going to issue an oral ruling."

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6h

More here:

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 7h

It appears that Lindsay Halligan's prosecution of Letitia James has been assigned to Biden appointee Jamar K. Walker.

James is represented by Abbe Lowell.

U.S. District Court
Eastern District of Virginia - (Norfolk)
CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 2:25-cr-00122-JKW-DEM All Defendants
RECAP Actions y
Case title: USA v. James
Assigned to: District Judge Jamar K. Walker Referred to: Magistrate Judge Douglas E.
Miller
Defendant (1)
Letitia A. James
Date Filed: 10/09/2025
represented by Abbe David Lowell
Lowell & Associates, PLLC

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6h

Letitia James's initial appearance in Virginia federal court has been scheduled for October 24. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

SUMMONS IN A CRIMINAL CASE
YOU ARE SUMMONED to appear before the United States district court at the time, date, and place set forth
below to answer to one or more offenses or violations based on the following document filed with the court:
• Indictment
Place: Walter E. Hoffman U.S. Courthouse
600 Granby Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Courtroom No.: Magistrate Courtroom #2
Date and Time: 10/24/20259:00 am

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6h

There's actually been a shockingly high number of Trump cases—like "assaults" on ICE officers in DC—that grand juries have refused to indict! So Trump prosecutors are doing significantly worse than regular prosecutors

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6h

It's just random local citizens on a grand jury—same pool as regular jurors—but because the jurors are only hearing the prosecution's side of the case, they tend to vote to indict (proceed to trial) in the large majority of cases (thus the famous dictum about being able to indict a ham sandwich).

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6h

A grand jury sits for a while and hears a bunch of cases, only from the prosecution side, and decides whether they're strong enough to bring an indictment (which leads to a trial).

A normal jury hears the trial for a single case and decides who wins.

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6h

A TRUE BILL
REDACTED COPY
Forepersoy
By:
LINDSEY HALLIGAN
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the E-Government Act the original of this page has been filed under seal.

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