Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 12h

The next storeowner builds the store with bricks and antifa has to go down the chimney

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 13h

And if I'm mayor of San Francisco I'm gonna make these places carry tofu scallion cream cheese

1

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 13h

New York used to have to bagels that were so good that you didn't need to put anything on them. The flavor and texture that new bakeries don't bother with anymore. If I'm mayor we're bringing those bagel places back.

Erin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · 16h

SOME OF YOU ARE EATING YOUR BAGELS DRY WITH NOTHING ON THEM????!!!!!!

1 1

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 15h

This is a great song!

1

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 15h

I don't see why is a hill for Hunky Butlers. They've got their own brand name to play up, it's easy to just let "butlers in the buff" go.

1

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 15h

Keep this energy up, and see if you can make sure Hakeem Jeffries has this energy too

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 17h

quite possible, and highly overlooked

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 18h

Now that I'm looking at the rider which allows for "short-term rentals" and is otherwise subject to interpretation that would make an ordinary breach-of-contract case difficult, I'm even more convinced at the nonsense of this. I understand why other US Attorneys said they couldn't go forward.

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 1d

Indictment alleges that James claimed the property as a 2nd home but used it as a rental investment property.

It says she rented the property out but conveniently doesn’t specify the timeframe or duration.

That’s notable bc you can rent out a 2nd home and the rider allows short-term rentals.

1/

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

In addition to the covenants and agreements made in the security Instrument Borrower and Lender further covenant and agree that Sections 6 and 8 of the Security Instrument are deleted and are replaced by the following:
6. Occupancy, Borrower will occupy and use the Property as Borrower's second home. Borrower will maintain exclusive control over the occupancy of the Property, including short-term rentals, and will not subject the Property to any timesharing or other shared ownership arrangement or to any rental pool or agreement that requires Borrower either to rent the Property or give a management firm or any other person or entity any control over the occupancy or use of the Property. Borrower will keep the Property available primarily as a residence for Borrower's personal use and enjoyment for at least one year after the date of this Second Home Rider, unless Lender otherwise agrees in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably with-held, or unless extenuating circumstances exist which are beyond Borrower's control.
8. Borrower's Loan Application. Borrower shall be in default it, during the Loan application process, Borrower or any persons or entities acting at the direction of Borrower or with Borrower's knowledge or consent gave materally false, mislead-ing, or inaccurate information or statements to Lender (or failed to provide Lender with material information) in connection with the Loan. Material representations include, but are not limited to, representations concerning Borrower's occupancy of the Property as Borrower's second home.
BY SIGNING BELOW, Borrower accepts and agrees to the terms and covenants
contained in this Second Home Rider.

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 18h

Can you disclose how you make a veggie stock? I've never been satisfied with mine.

1

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 20h

I don't know his political views but Steve Perry has distanced himself from this shitshow version of Journey for years. Cain's ties to MAGA are well-known and he's shown his ass many times.

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 20h

From the Letitia James indictment. Note the parenthetical (3) without the word "three" that would make it necessary.

Obviously this doesn't make or break the indictment, but it indicates how sloppy they went about this indictment, not even having qualified people proofread it. Careless fascists.

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).

1 2

Reposted by Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law

New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 1d

This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..

1.8K 11K 39K

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 1d

I would on a civil complaint, but I'm weirdly ethical like that

1 1 3

Reposted by Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 1d

1. truly outrageous
2. ofc lindsey halligan is the only attorney willing to put their name on the indictment
3. Acting US Attorneys love to leave the 'acting' out of their titles

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 1d

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).)

7 25 120

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 1d

I presume it's that she signed the rider with the requirement. But that's a weak, and possibly nonexistent, case for fraudulent misrepresentation.

1 1 31

Reposted by Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law

Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 1d

I’ve never seen anything remotely this petty charged as bank fraud.

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 1d

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

190 1.1K 5.1K

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 1d

So what are you going to do, Senator?

Reposted by Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law

Senator Amy Klobuchar @klobuchar.senate.gov · 1d

The President ordered these charges, fired his own U.S. Attorney and replaced him with a White House aide who would overrule career prosecutors to bring them.

We all must stand up for the rule of law.

www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Live Updates: N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James Indicted After Trump’s Pressure Campaign

www.nytimes.com

6 28 120

Reposted by Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law

Meghann Cuniff @meghanncuniff.bsky.social · 1d

A federal judge has dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

“Because the Court concludes that the allegedly defamatory statements in “Not Like Us” are nonactionable opinion, the motion to dismiss is GRANTED.” storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

3 42 130

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 2d

Johnson: "All of you can walk safely to the Capitol"

There was one day. Just one day in recent memory when it was dangerous to be at the Capitol. What day was that, Mr. Johnson?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Q: Do you agree that the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois should be in prison?

MIKE JOHNSON: Should they be in prison? I'm not the attorney general. I'm not following the day to day on that

Reposted by Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 2d

I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Donald Trump Truth Social Post: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also.

1K 7.6K 26K

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 3d

I cannot, based on reading this opinion, figure out how the defense could've possibly thought it was a good idea to introduce that testimony

2

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 3d

Different facts of course, but Eddy Grant won a lawsuit vs. Trump and the Trump campaign for sharing a meme using "Electric Avenue" without his permission.

Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 3d

Yesterday brought news that country star Zach Bryan is dropping a song critical of ICE.

Today, the official DHS account trolls him by using one of his songs (without permission, one strongly presumes) over the kind of cinematic footage Trump loves, of masked federal agents clashing with Americans.

Screenshot of a tweet from @DHSgov dated 7 October 2025. It shows a video of federal agents, under the text "We’re having an All Night Revival"

Reposted by Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law

Prof Caroline Mala Corbin @carolinemalacorbin.bsky.social · 3d

I guess I will live blog the argument. Unless I get too disgusted and stop.

Prof Caroline Mala Corbin @carolinemalacorbin.bsky.social · 3d

Hello!

I am your friendly neighborhood First Amendment professor here to provide some background on Chiles v. Salazar, to be argued in Supreme Court this morning.

At issue is whether Colorado can ban licensed therapists from inflicting the discredited practice of “conversion therapy” on minors

1 15 52

Mark Jaffe, 5 Bridges Law @markjkings.bsky.social · 3d

Presumably he wants file another amended complaint to cure any deficiencies so he bypasses Rule 11 sanctions (at least for now).