Grand Jury Rejects New Indictment Against AG Letitia James

Norfolk, Virginia – A grand jury has declined to return new mortgage fraud indictments against New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, marking a setback for the Justice Department. This comes after a federal judge dismissed previous charges against James, stating the prosecutor was unlawfully appointed.

The grand jury’s decision follows a motion from prosecutors who sought to refile the indictment against James, a frequent target of political attacks from former President Donald Trump. Key details were highlighted by anonymous sources familiar with the Justice Department’s strategy.

James was initially charged with bank fraud related to a home purchase in 2020. Prosecutors alleged that she misused a loan by renting out the property instead of using it as her second home. Lindsey Halligan, appointed amidst political pressure, presented this case to the grand jury.

In response to the grand jury’s decision, James stated, “It is time for this unchecked weaponization of our justice system to stop.” Her attorney, Abbe Lowell, echoed these sentiments, calling the indictment efforts a “shocking assault on the rule of law.”

The judge overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, criticized the appointments made by the Trump administration, leading to the case’s dismissal. His ruling underscores procedural issues affecting future legal actions.

The grand jury’s rejection is unusual; typically, grand juries tend to side with prosecutors. The Justice Department plans to reassess its approach, though sources suggest it may face further hurdles in re-indicting James, particularly due to potential statute-of-limits issues.

This dismissal follows years of legal battles involving James, who has previously investigated Trump. As the rhetoric surrounding these cases intensifies, the implications for the Justice Department’s prosecutorial credibility remain uncertain.