Justice Department's Efforts to Indict New York AG Letitia James Hit a Roadblock
In another stunning development, the US Justice Department has failed for a third time to secure an indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The latest setback comes after a month of relentless pressure from President Donald Trump, who has made it clear that he wants James brought to justice over allegations related to her handling of mortgage records.
The decision was reached by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, and marks the Justice Department's third failed attempt to prosecute James on charges. The first two cases were dismissed due to issues with the appointing process for prosecutors.
James has been a vocal critic of Trump, leading an investigation into his business dealings that ultimately led to him being found liable for fraud by a state appeals court. While the $464 million judgment was deemed excessive by the court, it's clear that James' actions have made her a target for Republican lawmakers and the President himself.
Despite the Justice Department's efforts, career prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia had concluded that the case against James was too weak to move forward. The department brought in out-of-state federal prosecutors to try to bring the charges, but ultimately couldn't overcome the hurdle of convincing 12 grand jurors that there was probable cause for an indictment.
James' lawyer Abbe Lowell issued a statement calling the Justice Department's efforts a "political vendetta" and warning that any further attempts to revive the discredited charges would be a "mockery of our system of justice." The rejection is sure to fuel speculation about Trump's motivations behind his actions, but one thing is clear: James' reputation as a fierce advocate for her constituents has been reinforced by this latest development.
In another stunning development, the US Justice Department has failed for a third time to secure an indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The latest setback comes after a month of relentless pressure from President Donald Trump, who has made it clear that he wants James brought to justice over allegations related to her handling of mortgage records.
The decision was reached by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, and marks the Justice Department's third failed attempt to prosecute James on charges. The first two cases were dismissed due to issues with the appointing process for prosecutors.
James has been a vocal critic of Trump, leading an investigation into his business dealings that ultimately led to him being found liable for fraud by a state appeals court. While the $464 million judgment was deemed excessive by the court, it's clear that James' actions have made her a target for Republican lawmakers and the President himself.
Despite the Justice Department's efforts, career prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia had concluded that the case against James was too weak to move forward. The department brought in out-of-state federal prosecutors to try to bring the charges, but ultimately couldn't overcome the hurdle of convincing 12 grand jurors that there was probable cause for an indictment.
James' lawyer Abbe Lowell issued a statement calling the Justice Department's efforts a "political vendetta" and warning that any further attempts to revive the discredited charges would be a "mockery of our system of justice." The rejection is sure to fuel speculation about Trump's motivations behind his actions, but one thing is clear: James' reputation as a fierce advocate for her constituents has been reinforced by this latest development.
anyway james is a total boss for standin up 2 him & keepin it real her rep is intact & trump's gonna have 2 deal w/ the consequences
. I mean, come on, the Justice Department can't even get it right? They're just fishing for Trump's ego or something 
. And what's with all these attempts to take down Letitia James? She's just doing her job and fighting for her constituents... meanwhile, the real issue is still the $464 million judgment against Trump 
. Mark my words, this whole thing is going to blow up in their faces soon 
.
, they're really not doing themselves any favors here, always trying to drum up charges that are super thin 
, and Letitia James is just a straight shooter who's standing up for what she believes in 
, no wonder Trump is all over her back, he can't handle someone calling him out 
, it's like the Department of Justice is more concerned with making headlines than actually doing justice 
, Abbe Lowell is right on point too, this whole thing just reeks of a "political vendetta" 
Like what's next? Are they gonna start going after random innocent people just because some dude with a bad comb over wants them to? 
This whole thing is getting so out of hand, and James' reputation as a tough lawyer who doesn't back down from anyone has only gotten stronger 
The hypocrisy would be wild, but since it's a woman, of course, it's just going to get swept under the rug again 
Anyway, letitia james is still my girl 
AOC vs Trump 
3rd time's the charm? NOPE! 
Virginia justice = LOL 
. Anyway, I'm glad James' lawyer called a spade a spade and said this was just another example of a "political vendetta" – she's definitely not backing down! 
. It just goes to show how powerful the AGs are in the state level - they're not afraid to take on big shots like Trump and come out on top 
. James has always been a straight shooter, no holds barred type, and she's not going to let some dirty tricks bring her down 
.
omg can you believe this?! they've failed AGAIN to take down Letitia James!!! i swear trump is just trying to distract everyone from his own messes 
keep on slaying, AG! 
Is he just tryin' to get some revenge or somethin'? And now this latest setback and James is just callin' it out as a "political vendetta"? Like, duh. We all know how that one goes down. 
I don't know man, but I'm keepin' an eye on this one. It's gettin' weird...
! I mean, Letitia James was totally on point investigating Trump and exposing him for what he did (imo). But of course, the Justice Department couldn't even get a conviction, can they? 
. Trump's relentless pressure, while understandable from a political standpoint, raises questions about the independence of the Justice Department and its ability to function as a neutral arbiter 
. Ultimately, the outcome underscores the need for greater checks and balances within the Justice Department to ensure its independence and impartiality in the face of partisan pressure 
.
I'm not surprised that the Justice Department is struggling to build a case against Letitia James - it just goes to show that you can't force accountability when the facts aren't on your side 
. I'm actually feeling a lot of solidarity with AG James today, she's shown incredible courage in taking on the powerful and speaking out for what's right 
I mean, Trump is still whining about it, but it's like he forgot the election already happened 
