Grand jury decides not to bring new charges against Letitia James

A grand jury has decided not to pursue charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James in a mortgage fraud case, after reviewing the matter for a second time. This decision comes just ten days after a federal judge dismissed the original charges, according to sources familiar with the case.

One source cautioned that the outcome might not be final, as the Justice Department could attempt to present the case to a grand jury once more. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment on grand jury proceedings.

The grand jury convened in court until noon on Thursday. The rapid effort by the Justice Department to bring the case back before a grand jury underscores the determination to pursue James, who has frequently been targeted by former President Trump in his political commentary.

Last month, a federal judge ruled that Lindsey Halligan, appointed by Trump as an interim U.S. attorney, was unlawfully appointed. As a result, cases against both James and former FBI Director James Comey were dismissed. Halligan, a former White House adviser, had been appointed following the removal of the prior interim U.S. attorney, amid pressure to prosecute Trumps political opponents.

James had previously pleaded not guilty to one count of making false statements to a financial institution and one count of bank fraud. The judge stated that all actions taken under Halligans appointment, including the indictments against Comey and James, were invalid.

However, the dismissal was made without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could potentially bring charges again. James legal team has argued that the prosecutions were selective and politically motivated, highlighting public statements from Trump calling for her prosecution.

The Justice Department has maintained that the former presidents social media posts were expressions of opinion rather than directives for action. Defense attorneys also argued that Halligans appointment exceeded the 120-day limit allowed for interim U.S. attorneys, rendering her authority invalid. The court agreed, noting that allowing the governments argument would enable successive interim appointments without Senate approval.

The ruling aligns with previous judicial findings that several Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney appointments were unlawful. Unlike other cases, the indictments for James and Comey were nullified because Halligan alone had signed them.

The situation is ongoing and further updates are expected as developments continue.

Author: Maya Henderson