Senator John Cornyn (R), alongside six Republican colleagues, has introduced the Law Enforcement Tools to Interdict Troubling Investments in Abodes (LETITIA) Act, legislation designed to strengthen criminal penalties for public officials who commit financial fraud while in office.
The bill, which directly references New York Attorney General Letitia James in its acronym, arrives as James faces a federal investigation into alleged mortgage fraud related to properties in New York and Virginia. The Department of Justice opened the inquiry following a referral from the Federal Housing Finance Agency earlier this year.
Cornyn said the bill is about restoring public trust in government by holding elected officials accountable when they exploit their positions for personal gain.
“The American people should be able to trust their elected officials to follow the letter of the law, not take advantage of their positions for personal gain,” he said. “This legislation would empower President Trump to hold crooked politicians like New York’s Letitia James accountable for defrauding their constituents, violating their oath of office, and breaking the law.”
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), a co-sponsor of the bill, echoed the message, stating that public officials who commit fraud must face real consequences.
“We should never turn a blind eye when public officials commit fraud or criminal acts,” Fischer said. “That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Cornyn in introducing this commonsense legislation to ensure public officials are held fully accountable for their actions.”
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) emphasized the need for integrity in public service, adding that those who use elected office for personal benefit betray the public’s trust.
“Serving in public office is a privilege,” Daines said. “The American people and the good of our country should always be first and foremost in our public servants’ minds, not personal gain.”
The LETITIA Act would increase both fines and prison time for public officials convicted of crimes such as bank fraud, mortgage fraud, or tax fraud. It would also create mandatory minimum sentences to ensure prison time is served. Repeat offenders who engage in a pattern of financial misconduct would face even stiffer penalties.
While critics may see the legislation as politically charged, particularly due to its name, supporters argue that it addresses a longstanding gap in accountability for public corruption.
Cornyn and his colleagues say the act is necessary to deter abuses of power and protect the public’s faith in the rule of law.