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A federal grand jury in Virginia has declined to bring charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, dealing a significant blow to the Justice Department's second attempt to prosecute one of President Donald Trump's most prominent political adversaries.
The decision, reported on December 4, 2025, prevents the revival of a case that was controversially initiated and has been criticized by legal experts and Democrats as politically motivated. This outcome effectively ends the DOJ's pursuit of James on this matter, validating the position of career prosecutors who initially found the evidence against her to be insufficient.
The legal saga began in October 2025 when James was indicted on charges of bank fraud and making false statements related to a mortgage for a property she purchased in Norfolk, Virginia. The indictment followed a public pressure campaign by President Trump, who had repeatedly called for investigations into his political opponents. The case was brought by Lindsey Halligan, a former personal attorney for Trump who was installed as the interim U.S. Attorney after her predecessor, who was skeptical of the case, was forced to resign.
However, the original indictment was short-lived. On November 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the mortgage fraud charges against James, ruling that Halligan’s appointment was unlawful. In her order, the judge stated Halligan had “no lawful authority to present the indictment.” The same ruling also dismissed a parallel case against former FBI Director James Comey.
Despite the dismissal, the Justice Department announced its intent to seek a new indictment. By presenting the case to a new grand jury, prosecutors hoped to secure charges under a lawfully recognized authority. The grand jury's refusal to do so, known as a “no-bill,” suggests the jurors did not find probable cause to support the allegations.
Throughout the ordeal, James has maintained her innocence, describing the prosecution as a baseless and retaliatory political attack. The case has been widely seen as a key example of the Trump administration's alleged weaponization of the Justice Department. Other officials, like Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, have called the prosecution of Letitia James a sham and an abuse of power. The grand jury's latest decision brings this contentious chapter to a close.
