New York Attorney General Letitia James is taking aim at the prosecutor overseeing her bank fraud case, arguing that Lindsey Halligan’s conversation with a journalist was “unusual and improper” and potentially violated court rules. James’ lawyers plan to file a motion on Friday to dismiss the indictment, citing Halligan’s unlawful appointment as the reason.
James denies wrongdoing in the case, which alleges she bought a house in Virginia and used it as an investment property, despite claiming it was a second home. She has accused the Justice Department of political retribution after suing President Trump in civil court and securing a large fraud judgment that was later erased by an appeals court.
Halligan’s appointment is being challenged by James’ lawyers, who argue that she was “defectively appointed” to her role. Several other temporary U.S. attorneys have faced similar challenges in recent months.
James also asked the judge to prohibit the Justice Department from disclosing case materials and investigative information to the media, citing Halligan’s texts to a journalist as an example of internal government information being shared. The conversation allegedly criticized a New York Times article about James’ case, with Halligan accusing the reporter of “jumping to conclusions” and sharing biased information.
James’ lawyers claim that this disclosure could undermine her right to a fair trial, and argue that Halligan’s lack of prosecutorial experience is no excuse for violating court rules. The Justice Department has faced similar pressure in other cases, including a recent challenge from accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione over the use of language by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/letitia-james-blasts-lindsey-halligan-trump-prosecutor-conversation-with-journalist