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Grand jury rejects charges against New York Attorney General
A federal grand jury in Virginia has refused to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, delivering another setback to former President Donald Trump's attempts to pursue legal action against political opponents.
Case background and dismissal
The decision follows a judge's ruling last month that dismissed federal cases against James and former FBI Director James Comey. The judge determined the prosecutor appointed by Trump lacked legal authority to bring the charges.
James, who previously secured a fraud ruling against Trump before his 2024 re-election, had denounced the federal case as politically driven. The allegations accused her of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
Grand jury's rare decision
According to CBS News, citing an unnamed official, the grand jury declined to approve an indictment. Grand juries, composed of citizens, assess whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial but do not determine guilt.
Statistics underscore the rarity of such rejections: in 2016, federal prosecutors investigated over 150,000 individuals, with grand juries declining charges in only six cases, CBS reported.
Allegations and James's response
Prosecutors claimed James misrepresented her intent when securing a mortgage for a Norfolk home, allegedly stating it would serve as her secondary residence to obtain favorable loan terms. Sources told U.S. media the property was purchased for James's great-niece, who reportedly did not pay rent.
In a statement, James called the charges groundless and urged an end to what she termed the "weaponization of our justice system." Her attorney, Abbe David Lowell, described the grand jury's decision as a "decisive rejection" of a baseless case, warning that any further prosecution would undermine judicial integrity.
Broader legal context
As New York's top legal official, James filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his company in 2022. A court later found Trump liable for falsifying records to secure loans, imposing a $500 million fine that an appeals court later reduced, though it upheld the fraud finding.
James and Comey are not the only Trump adversaries to face federal charges. His former national security adviser, John Bolton, currently faces accusations of mishandling classified information.
