ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A federal grand jury declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the case. This decision marks the Justice Department’s third unsuccessful attempt to prosecute James amid a prolonged campaign of pressure from former President Donald Trump.
Last month, a federal judge dismissed mortgage-related charges against James as well as unrelated charges directed at former FBI Director James Comey, citing the unlawful appointment of the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, who was appointed by Trump as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Virginia. Attempts by the Justice Department to secure a new indictment against James in Norfolk, Virginia, also fell short last week.
James’ attorney, Abbe Lowell, released a statement asserting that this second failure to indict demonstrates the Department of Justice’s attempt to pursue what he labeled a “political vendetta” against the Attorney General. He argued that the case should not have reached this stage and criticized the implications it has for the Justice Department’s integrity.
Background on the charges reveals that Attorney General James pleaded not guilty to allegations related to declaring a home as her second residence, which reportedly allowed her to save around $50 a month on her mortgage payment. These charges come amidst ongoing scrutiny of her investigation into the Trump Organization, where she alleged that Trump and others profited from fraudulent practices, including the overvaluation of properties to secure favorable financial benefits.
It is notable that federal grand juries typically find in favor of the government due to lower probable cause thresholds required for indictment. The current rejection of charges against James underscores the significant challenges the Justice Department has faced in substantiating its case. Interestingly, prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia had determined that the evidence against James was insufficient to warrant a trial, leading to the involvement of out-of-state federal prosecutors in an attempt to move the case forward.
This series of events raises concerns not only about the legitimacy of the charges brought against James but also about the pressures faced by federal prosecutors in politically charged situations, suggesting potential ramifications for the integrity and reputation of the Justice Department moving forward.