New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Setback in Mortgage Fraud Indictment
A federal grand jury has rejected new mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, dealing a significant blow to the Justice Department's bid to prosecute the frequent Trump target.
The latest development comes after a judge dismissed the previous prosecution of James and former FBI Director James Comey, citing the illegal appointment of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan as part of the reason for its dismissal. Halligan was installed amid pressure from President Donald Trump to charge his political opponents.
Prosecutors had requested the grand jury to return an indictment against James on bank fraud and false statements charges related to a home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2020. The case alleged that James signed a document allowing her to rent out the property for personal use and enjoyment for at least one year, but instead rented it out to a family of three, securing favorable loan terms not available to investment properties.
The rejection by the grand jury is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Justice Department in its pursuit of high-profile Trump targets. James has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and accused the administration of using the justice system to seek revenge against her and other political opponents.
"We are disappointed but not surprised that the grand jury refused to indict," said Abbe Lowell, James' attorney. "This should be the end of this case, but if they continue, undeterred by a court ruling and a grand jury's rejection of the charges, it will be a shocking assault on the rule of law and a devastating blow to the integrity of our justice system."
The Justice Department is expected to try again for an indictment against James, but the prospects of securing a conviction remain uncertain. The case has been marked by controversy over Halligan's appointment, with U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie taking issue with the mechanism used to install her as U.S. attorney.
For James and other Trump critics, this latest setback is just the latest example of pushback from grand jurors who have refused to return indictments in recent cases.
A federal grand jury has rejected new mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, dealing a significant blow to the Justice Department's bid to prosecute the frequent Trump target.
The latest development comes after a judge dismissed the previous prosecution of James and former FBI Director James Comey, citing the illegal appointment of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan as part of the reason for its dismissal. Halligan was installed amid pressure from President Donald Trump to charge his political opponents.
Prosecutors had requested the grand jury to return an indictment against James on bank fraud and false statements charges related to a home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2020. The case alleged that James signed a document allowing her to rent out the property for personal use and enjoyment for at least one year, but instead rented it out to a family of three, securing favorable loan terms not available to investment properties.
The rejection by the grand jury is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Justice Department in its pursuit of high-profile Trump targets. James has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and accused the administration of using the justice system to seek revenge against her and other political opponents.
"We are disappointed but not surprised that the grand jury refused to indict," said Abbe Lowell, James' attorney. "This should be the end of this case, but if they continue, undeterred by a court ruling and a grand jury's rejection of the charges, it will be a shocking assault on the rule of law and a devastating blow to the integrity of our justice system."
The Justice Department is expected to try again for an indictment against James, but the prospects of securing a conviction remain uncertain. The case has been marked by controversy over Halligan's appointment, with U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie taking issue with the mechanism used to install her as U.S. attorney.
For James and other Trump critics, this latest setback is just the latest example of pushback from grand jurors who have refused to return indictments in recent cases.
it's like they're trying to make Letitia James' life even harder 
and it's all because of politics 
you gotta wonder what's gonna happen next, is she gonna get indicted or is the justice department just gonna give up? 
and honestly, can we talk about how crazy that judge Currie is for taking issue with Halligan's appointment 
like, come on man, can't we all just agree to follow the rules?! 
anyway, this case has been a total rollercoaster ride 
and i'm low-key kinda rooting for Letitia James at this point 
she seems like a good person who's being unfairly targeted 
is it even possible for someone as high up as her to get away with that kinda thing? idk i mean she seems really good at her job but i'm not sure if that excuses everything. btw has anyone seen that new netflix show everyone's talking about? i've been meaning to check it out 
. like what even is the point of all dis? justice system suppose 2 b about fairness and equality not just revenge against ppl who disagree w/ trump 
. can we pls just move on from all dis drama already? 
When you think prosecutors are gonna get that one person, but nope! 
[ Image of a broken scale with a single dollar bill still on it ]
The Justice Department's never-ending pursuit of high-profile targets like Letitia James is a perfect example of how power can indeed lead to corruption. It's time for the system to take a step back and reevaluate its priorities! 
can't believe what's going on here 
. Fingers crossed James can stay out of trouble from now on 
!
But what's even more concerning is how this all started - the appointment of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan being done under pressure from Trump 
Like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we want to make sure our favorite politicians don't get scrutinized too much"? I'm not buying it. This whole thing feels like a massive power struggle between the Justice Department and people who are trying to hold them accountable.
What's really going on here?
Can't believe this! The Justice Department thinks they can just keep going after Letitia James? Like, what's next? Trying to arrest her for breathing wrong? 
The rule of law is supposed to protect people like her, not punish them for standing up to the powerful.