Grand juries have twice rejected efforts to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, delivering a stunning rebuke to the Justice Department’s pursuit of Trump’s political opponents and exposing serious flaws in what appears to be a vindictive prosecution campaign.
Story Snapshot
- Two separate grand juries in one week refused to indict Letitia James, marking unprecedented rejections
- Original indictments against James and Comey were thrown out due to an illegally appointed prosecutor
- James faces bank fraud charges over a 2020 home purchase where she allegedly misrepresented the property use
- Defense attorneys call the prosecution a vindictive stain on the Justice Department’s reputation
Grand Juries Reject Weak Case Twice
The Justice Department suffered consecutive grand jury rejections within a single week, first in Norfolk and then in Alexandria, Virginia. Grand jury rejections represent unusual circumstances in any prosecution. Still, these failures are particularly damaging for a Justice Department that has aggressively pursued cases against Trump critics like James and former FBI Director James Comey.
Citizens evaluating the government’s evidence have consistently found it underwhelming, refusing to rubber-stamp charges prosecutors characterized as clear-cut criminal violations.
Justice Department again fails to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia Jameshttps://t.co/qj81QeaE2w pic.twitter.com/pc4YG0Mqv7
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 12, 2025
Illegal Prosecutor Appointment Derails Original Cases
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie threw out the original indictments against both James and Comey in November, ruling that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was illegally appointed as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The Trump administration installed Halligan, a former Trump lawyer with no prosecutorial experience, after veteran prosecutor Erik Siebert resigned under pressure. Siebert stepped aside in September after Trump publicly declared he wanted the interim U.S. attorney “out” for refusing to file charges against political opponents.
Bank Fraud Charges Over Property Purchase
James faces charges of bank fraud and making false statements in connection with a 2020 home purchase, in which she signed a “second home rider” agreement.
Prosecutors allege she violated lending terms by renting the property to a family of three instead of using it as a personal residence for one year as required. This allowed James to obtain favorable loan terms typically unavailable for investment properties. The case centers on whether James deliberately misrepresented her intentions to secure better financing conditions from the lending institution.
Defense Calls Prosecution Vindictive Campaign
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell characterized the repeated failures as evidence that the case “should never have seen the light of day” and represents “a stain on this Department’s reputation.”
James spent years as New York Attorney General investigating and suing Trump, winning a significant judgment alleging he defrauded banks by overstating real estate values on financial statements.
Though a higher court later overturned that fine, James’ persistent legal challenges against Trump provide clear motivation for what her lawyers argue constitutes vindictive prosecution designed to punish a vocal Trump critic.
