Justice Department’s Second Attempt To Reindict Letitia James Fails Again

For a second time in one week, a federal grand jury has declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, marking another setback for the Justice Department’s efforts to refile charges that were dismissed last month due to an unlawful appointment of a federal prosecutor. The latest refusal came Thursday in Alexandria, Virginia, following a separate grand jury’s rejection in Norfolk on December 4.

The quick back-to-back presentations show how aggressively the Justice Department has pushed to reopen the case against James, a prominent political target of President Donald Trump. James’ attorney, Abbe Lowell, sharply criticized the renewed attempts, saying the double rejection underscores a case that “should never have seen the light of day” and has already cast doubt on the department’s credibility.

The original indictment accused James of falsely claiming that a Norfolk home she purchased would serve as her second residence, allegedly enabling her to secure a better mortgage rate. Prosecutors asserted she rented the property instead. James had entered a not-guilty plea before the case was thrown out.

A federal judge dismissed the charges last month after ruling that Lindsey Halligan, appointed as interim US attorney, had been unlawfully installed in that role. The judge found that the Justice Department exceeded its authority by naming Halligan after the 120-day window for interim appointments had expired, invalidating all actions taken under her leadership, including the indictments against James and former FBI Director James Comey.

Although the dismissal was issued without prejudice, allowing prosecutors to attempt new filings, repeated failures before separate grand juries could deepen questions about whether the evidence is strong enough to move forward. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner noted that losing before a grand jury once is often a sign that prosecutors lack a viable case.

Defense attorneys for both James and Comey have long argued the prosecutions were politically driven, pointing to comments and social media posts from Trump urging action against them. The Justice Department insists the posts were not directives but expressions of Trump’s beliefs.

As the legal road grows steeper, questions continue to mount over the department’s approach, its independence, and whether further attempts to indict James will proceed.

Credit: CNN Newsource

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.