New York Attorney General Letitia James avoided indictment once again after a federal grand jury chose not to bring charges. This marks the third failed effort by the Justice Department to prosecute her following pressure from President Trump.
According to NBC News, federal sources confirmed the decision on Thursday, bringing the latest attempt to an end. Prosecutors had pushed for charges linked to a mortgage involving a home James owns in Norfolk, Virginia.
The latest setback comes after a federal judge dismissed earlier mortgage-related charges last month. That same ruling also tossed out separate charges against former FBI Director James Comey. The judge said the prosecutor handling both cases had been improperly appointed. Trump had named that prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Virginia.
Just one week earlier, the Justice Department tried and failed to get a new indictment in Norfolk. After the grand jury declined to act, the department did not respond to requests for comment.
James’ lawyer, Abbe Lowell, criticized the repeated attempts to bring the case. “For the second time in seven days, the Department of Justice has failed in its clear attempt to fulfill President Trump’s political vendetta against Attorney General James,” he said. “This unprecedented rejection makes even clearer that this case should never have seen the light of day.”
Lowell added, “This case already has been a stain on this Department’s reputation and raises troubling questions about its integrity. Any further attempt to revive these discredited charges would be a mockery of our system of justice.”
Before the original case was dismissed, James pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors claimed she saved about $50 a month by listing the Norfolk home as a second residence. Her legal team has denied any wrongdoing.
James has been a frequent target of Trump since she led a civil fraud case against the Trump Organization. Trump was found liable in that case, though a state appeals court later said the $464 million penalty was excessive while keeping the fraud finding in place.
Federal grand juries rarely turn down charges because prosecutors only need to show probable cause. In this case, career prosecutors in Virginia had already decided the evidence was too weak. Pressure to move forward eventually led Trump’s own nominee for the office to resign.
SOURCE: blacknews.com