The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly hit a new roadblock in its attempts to prosecute New York Attorney General Letitia James on mortgage fraud-related charges.
CNN, sourcing its information from an unnamed “person familiar with the development,” is reporting a grand jury refused to indict James after being asked to review the case against her for a second time. The refusal to proceed with an indictment comes 10 days after a federal judge dismissed the initial charges against her after determining the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was improperly appointed to her position.
James had pleaded not guilty to one count of making false statements to a financial institution and one count of bank fraud. The charges against James followed a criminal referral made by Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who alleged James committed mortgage fraud by claiming a Virginia property she acquired as her primary residence.
CNN added that “another source familiar with the situation” claimed the DOJ could make another attempt to secure an indictment. Abbe Lowell, an attorney for James, issued a statement declaring the DOJ should drop its efforts.
“This should be the end of this case,” he said. “If they continue, undeterred by a court ruling and a grand jury’s rejection of the charges, it will be a shocking assault on the rule of law and a devastating blow to the integrity of our justice system.”
