Grand Jury Rejects Indictment of NY AG Letitia James

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, rejecting revised charges of mortgage fraud that stemmed from a 2020 loan she obtained to purchase a second home in Norfolk. The decision marks a significant setback for the Department of Justice, which had sought to revive the case after a federal judge dismissed the original indictment last month.

The initial charges, filed on October 9, accused James, 67, of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution in connection with a six-figure mortgage. Those allegations centered on her application for the loan. The indictment was brought by Lindsey Halligan, then serving as interim U.S. attorney for the district. However, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled on November 24 that Halligan's appointment was unlawful under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Currie determined that after the 120-day limit for an initial interim appointee expired, the district court, not Attorney General Pam Bondi, held authority to select the next acting U.S. attorney. As a result, all actions by Halligan, including the grand jury presentation...