The Justice Department has struck out for the third time in its attempts to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. A federal grand jury refused to indict James, dealing a significant blow to President Donald Trump's pressure campaign against her.
Since January, Trump has repeatedly pushed for James' prosecution on charges related to a mortgage on her home in Norfolk, Virginia. The Justice Department first brought the case before a grand jury but ultimately failed to secure an indictment. The second attempt also ended in defeat, with a federal judge dismissing the charges due to concerns over the appointment of the prosecutor.
This latest setback has been described by James' lawyer as "a stain on this Department's reputation" and has raised "troubling questions about its integrity." The Justice Department did not comment on the decision.
It is worth noting that it is rare for a federal grand jury to reject charges, largely due to the process being stacked in favor of the government. Prosecutors only need to convince 12 of at least 16 grand jurors to meet the probable cause threshold, which is significantly lower than the unanimous "beyond a reasonable doubt" requirement for securing a conviction.
The case against James revolves around allegations that she saved $50 per month on her mortgage payment by declaring her home as her second residence. However, James has pleaded not guilty to these charges and maintains that she followed all applicable laws and regulations.
Trump's efforts to see James prosecuted have been seen as an attempt to exact revenge against the Attorney General for investigating his organization for fraud. A divided state appeals court found Trump liable for fraud in a civil suit but also ruled that the $464 million judgment was excessive.
The Justice Department's repeated failures to secure an indictment against James are likely to further erode trust in the agency and raise questions about its independence from political interference.
Since January, Trump has repeatedly pushed for James' prosecution on charges related to a mortgage on her home in Norfolk, Virginia. The Justice Department first brought the case before a grand jury but ultimately failed to secure an indictment. The second attempt also ended in defeat, with a federal judge dismissing the charges due to concerns over the appointment of the prosecutor.
This latest setback has been described by James' lawyer as "a stain on this Department's reputation" and has raised "troubling questions about its integrity." The Justice Department did not comment on the decision.
It is worth noting that it is rare for a federal grand jury to reject charges, largely due to the process being stacked in favor of the government. Prosecutors only need to convince 12 of at least 16 grand jurors to meet the probable cause threshold, which is significantly lower than the unanimous "beyond a reasonable doubt" requirement for securing a conviction.
The case against James revolves around allegations that she saved $50 per month on her mortgage payment by declaring her home as her second residence. However, James has pleaded not guilty to these charges and maintains that she followed all applicable laws and regulations.
Trump's efforts to see James prosecuted have been seen as an attempt to exact revenge against the Attorney General for investigating his organization for fraud. A divided state appeals court found Trump liable for fraud in a civil suit but also ruled that the $464 million judgment was excessive.
The Justice Department's repeated failures to secure an indictment against James are likely to further erode trust in the agency and raise questions about its independence from political interference.
another example of how our system is rigged against the people... it's like they're trying to make sure politicians who do the right thing get punished for doing so. $50 per month on her mortgage payment, come on! that's not even a drop in the bucket 
and now the Justice Department is getting a reputation for being nothing more than a political tool 
anyone think about all the other times they've been used to silence or intimidate whistleblowers and activists? 
we need real accountability here, not just empty threats from Trump...
. I mean, come on, a $50 per month mortgage savings? It's not like she's hiding millions or something 
. And what's with Trump trying to exact revenge because she looked into his shady business dealings? That's just shady politics for you 
.
. And what's with all these 'troubling questions' about integrity? Just give us some real evidence instead of hand-wringing 
Let's focus on holding people accountable for real crimes, rather than just playing politics 
.
Can't believe this is still happening! Like, come on, President Trump, chill out! 
You can't just keep pushing for someone's prosecution 'cause you're mad at them. It's not cool, dude. The whole thing reeks of politicization and it's affecting the integrity of the Justice Department. 
They're trying to do their job but it's like they're under a microscope. And what's with this $50 monthly savings on her mortgage? Like, who cares about that? 
anyway, the fact that this is even happening in the first place is wild. the justice department is supposed to be above politics, but it feels like they're just as caught up in trump's drama as everyone else 
. and can we talk about how ridiculous the mortgage situation is? like, $50 a month on her mortgage payment? that's not even worth writing an indictment over 
. This whole thing is just a mess, and now it's clear that the Justice Department can't be trusted to do its job without some political interference 
. The fact that they got rejected by a grand jury three times should be a major red flag 
. We need better than this 
.
This latest decision is a harsh reminder that the Justice Department's independence is crucial in maintaining faith in the system. The fact that they've failed three times to secure an indictment against James raises serious concerns about their integrity. It's like the old saying goes: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." 