The case towards New York’s high regulation enforcement official, first reported by MSNBC, was introduced to a grand jury by Lindsay Halligan, Trump’s just lately appointed interim U.S. lawyer for the Japanese District of Virginia. Halligan just lately secured prices towards former FBI Director James Comey, a staunch Trump critic, alleging he lied to Congress.
Halligan, who has no prosecutorial expertise, reportedly secured James’ indictment following an investigation into allegations that she engaged in mortgage fraud whereas serving to her niece finance a house in Norfolk, Va.
In an announcement, James stated the indictment was half and parcel of “a desperate weaponization of our justice system” and that Trump was forcing the hand of federal regulation enforcement.
“These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost. The president’s actions are a grave violation of our Constitutional order and have drawn sharp criticism from members of both parties,” the assertion learn.
“His decision to fire a United States Attorney who refused to bring charges against me — and replace them with someone who is blindly loyal not to the law, but to the president — is antithetical to the bedrock principles of our country,” James’ assertion continued. “This is the time for leaders on both sides of the aisle to speak out against this blatant perversion of our system of justice.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, with legal professionals Christopher Kise and Alina Habba, attends the closing arguments within the Trump Group civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court docket in Manhattan, New York Metropolis, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (Shannon Stapleton/Pool Picture by way of AP)
James’ workplace introduced a bombshell case towards the Trump Group that went on trial lower than a yr earlier than his return to energy. It culminated in him and his high executives being discovered liable on a sequence of claims alleging they dedicated wide-scale fraud for years whereas working his family-run actual property empire, and with almost half a billion {dollars} in fines. A mid-level appeals court docket just lately discovered the monetary penalty was too excessive.
The president has disparaged James incessantly, repeatedly accusing her on Fact Social of main a witch hunt towards him and goading her from the witness field when he took the stand at his trial, deriding her as a “political hack” as she sat within the entrance row.
Seth Wenig/AP
New York Lawyer Basic Leticia James, again, sits within the courtroom earlier than the beginning of closing arguments in former President Donald Trump’s civil enterprise fraud trial at New York Supreme Court docket, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Picture/Seth Wenig, Pool)
Comey pleaded not responsible to the costs towards him on Wednesday. Like James, he has lengthy been a goal of the president. Halligan reportedly pursued an indictment towards Comey after profession prosecutors refused to pursue one.
The fees towards Comey and James come weeks after Trump ordered U.S. Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi to prosecute his perceived enemies, by chance posting the directive publicly on his social media website, The Wall Avenue Journal reported Wednesday.
“Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, ‘same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done,” Trump wrote within the submit.
“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
This can be a growing story. Examine for updates.
