Grand jury decides not to charge N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James, shortly after first case dismissal

The Justice Department did not secure an indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the matter. This development comes less than two weeks after the initial criminal case against her was dismissed.

James, who has been a political target of former President Donald Trump and successfully pursued a fraud lawsuit against him, had previously faced a grand jury indictment on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Responding to the news of the grand jury's decision, James stated, "The charges against me are baseless. It is time for this unchecked weaponization of our justice system to stop." She added, "I am grateful to the members of the grand jury and humbled by the support I have received from across the country. I will continue my work defending the rule of law and serving the people of New York."

The first case had been presented by Lindsey Halligan, the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and former personal attorney to Trump, who lacked prior prosecutorial experience. That case was nullified on November 24 when a judge ruled Halligans appointment unlawful. While the Justice Department initially planned to appeal, it later pursued a new grand jury review in Norfolk, Virginia, with different prosecutors.

The failure to secure a new indictment does not prevent prosecutors from attempting to do so again. Sources cautioned against premature conclusions regarding the outcome.

The Justice Department does not comment on ongoing grand jury matters. Prosecutors have also discussed pursuing another case against former FBI Director James Comey, whose charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation were dismissed on the same day as James case.

Halligans appointment as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia followed Trumps removal of his prior nominee, Erik Siebert, who had resisted pressure to prosecute James and Comey. This appointment came shortly after Trump publicly urged then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue prosecutions against James, Comey, and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California, describing them as guilty and criticizing the lack of action.

Author: Noah Whitman