Credited from: INDIATIMES
A federal grand jury in Virginia successfully declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of mortgage fraud, marking another setback for the Justice Department following a previous dismissal of similar charges. U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie had thrown out the initial case against James, stating that the federal prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed. James has long maintained that the prosecution was politically motivated, particularly due to her critical stance against President Donald Trump, according to Reuters, CBS News, and India Times.
This decision came after the grand jury was presented with a renewed case that alleged James misled a bank during her home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia. Prosecutors had argued that James falsely classified the property as a second home rather than an investment property to secure more favorable loan terms. However, the grand jury found insufficient grounds to pursue charges, marking a rare instance where such a body rejected the prosecution's request, according to ABC News and HuffPost.
James has asserted that the charges against her are baseless and a form of political vendetta orchestrated by Trump's administration, which has been vocal about its disdain for her investigations into his business practices. In light of the grand jury's ruling, her attorney, Abbe Lowell, emphasized that any continued efforts to charge her would severely undermine the integrity of the justice system. James echoed this sentiment, stating, "It is time for this unchecked weaponization of our justice system to stop," as reported by Los Angeles Times, BBC, and Al Jazeera.
Despite these developments, there are indications that the Justice Department may attempt to pursue a new indictment against James. The prosecutorial efforts reflect an ongoing pattern in recent cases against prominent critics of Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey, whose indictments also faced similar dismissals due to the unlawful nature of Halligan's appointment. These events have collectively raised questions regarding the politicization of legal frameworks under the current administration, as highlighted by multiple media sources including NPR and India Times.