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For the third time, a grand jury in Virginia has declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on charges of mortgage fraud. This marks the second setback in a week for the Justice Department, which had previously seen a case dismissed due to the unlawful appointment of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan. Prosecutors allege that James falsely listed a house she purchased in 2020 as a second home instead of an investment property, potentially saving $19,000 over the life of the loan. James has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The grand jury's decision is a significant blow to the Justice Department's efforts to pursue charges against James, who successfully brought a civil fraud case against President Donald Trump last year. According to ABC News, James' attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated, "This unprecedented rejection makes even clearer that this case should never have seen the light of day."
Despite the setback, the Justice Department could still attempt to present the case to another grand jury. However, legal experts caution that repeated attempts to secure an indictment could raise policy and constitutional concerns. Former federal prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky told CNN, "The Government should hang it up at strike two rather than go down swinging."
The repeated efforts to indict James have drawn criticism and allegations of political motivation. Retired federal Judge Nancy Gertner noted that such actions could be seen as vindictive, suggesting that the pursuit of charges may be driven by a desire to target James rather than a strong legal case. The Justice Department has not commented on the grand jury's decision.
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