President Donald Trump and New York AG Letitia James

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

For the second time in a week, a federal grand jury has declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, despite renewed efforts by the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against her, CNN reports.

Prosecutors presented a new case against James to a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, on Thursday, Dec. 11 — just seven days after a separate grand jury in Norfolk rejected a similar attempt, according to the outlet.

The back-to-back presentations underscore the Justice Department’s push to revive a prosecution that was derailed last month when a federal judge tossed the original indictment, as Daily Voice reported.

James, a frequent political target of President Donald Trump, had been charged with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, accusations she denied.

The initial indictment was dismissed on Monday, Nov. 24, after US District Judge Cameron Currie ruled that Lindsey Halligan, the interim US attorney who brought the charges, had been unlawfully appointed.

Halligan — a former Trump adviser and his hand-selected prosecutor — had been placed in the role after the Justice Department removed the previous interim US attorney amid pressure to pursue cases against James and former FBI Director James Comey.

Because Halligan lacked lawful authority, the judge determined that “all actions” stemming from her appointment were void and had to be set aside.

The dismissal applied not only to James’ case but also to the criminal case against Comey, who had been facing allegations that he lied to Congress and obstructed a congressional investigation.

Both indictments were dismissed without prejudice, giving prosecutors the option to seek new charges.

James had entered a not-guilty plea before the original case collapsed.

Grand juries approve the overwhelming majority of cases federal prosecutors bring before them, making back-to-back refusals — in two separate venues — a highly uncommon setback for the Justice Department.