Overview
- Federal grand jurors in Norfolk, Virginia refused to return a revised mortgage fraud indictment against Letitia James after prosecutors re-presented the case.
- A U.S. judge on Nov. 24 set aside the original indictments of James and James Comey, ruling that acting U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed and dismissing the cases without prejudice.
- Different prosecutors handled Thursday’s presentation, and the Justice Department could attempt to seek charges again even though such grand jury rejections are rare in federal practice.
- James has denied wrongdoing and her attorneys have accused the government of targeting her for political reasons, citing President Donald Trump’s public calls for prosecutions and Halligan’s prior work for him.
- Prosecutors are weighing next steps on the James case and separately face timing and statute-of-limitations questions if they try to refile charges against Comey.