c/politics · by MicroWave@lemmy.world · 272d

Grand jury declines to reindict Letitia James

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/politics/grand-jury-declines-to-indict-letitia-james-again

A grand jury declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James after being asked to look at the mortgage fraud case against her a second time, 10 days after a federal judge threw out the initial charges against her, according to a person familiar with the development Thursday.

Another source familiar with the situation said there should be no premature celebration, because the Justice Department could try to seek the indictment a third time.

304 points · 10 comments · view on lemmy.world

10 Comments

neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 60 pts · 272d (2 replies)

For context on the remarkableness of this outcome...

Solomon "Sol" Wachtler (born April 29, 1930) is an American former jurist, Republican politician, attorney, and author from the state of New York. He served as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1985 to 1992. Wachtler's most famous quote, made shortly after his appointment as Chief Judge, is that district attorneys could get grand juries to "indict a ham sandwich".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Wachtler

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 272d

Also a good reminder that this Justice Department failed to indict the guy that threw a sandwich at ICE twice, then reduced the charges to a misdemeanor to bypass the grand jury, and still failed to get a conviction.

Normally federal charges aren't brought unless there's a strong case. The Federal conviction rate is usually over 90% because they don't bother going after things they probably won't win. They seem to have thrown that out the window in their haste to target political enemies. Turning the entire department into a laughing stock for anyone paying attention.

captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 271d

And for context as to why: there's neither defense, rules of evidence, nor a high burden of proof in an indictment. There's also little consequences in the eyes of grand juries. It's the prosecution going to the grand jury, throwing whatever they feel like at them, and asking if they have enough reason to bring it to trial.

NatakuNox@lemmy.world · 38 pts · 272d

The clowns at the DOJ all need to be disbared

Lon3star@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 272d

lol, nice to see some degree of resistance to the tidal wave of bullshit

inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 271d

Well that's embarrassing for the incompetent Republicans.

DeICEAmerica@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 272d (4 replies)

[ removed ]

baltakatei@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 272d (2 replies)

Mods, this provocateur right here.

DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 271d

"Hello, it is I, the obvious protester and definitely not a fed.