The Louisiana Supreme Court grants a stay of Attorney General Liz Murrill’s indictment.
The Court noted that the “Attorney General makes a compelling argument concerning the disturbing defects in the grand jury proceedings and in the trial court’s handling of those proceedings.”
Murrill released a statement on the Court’s decision, saying “I’m grateful to the Louisiana Supreme Court for swiftly issuing a stay in this matter. The constitution and laws of Louisiana impose a wide swath of duties on the Attorney General. I will continue to carry out those duties to the best of my ability. This matter is not over. I will still need to file the necessary motions to seek a dismissal, which will be forthcoming. I want to thank the many friends and supporters who have expressed their support and encouragement. I hope this political witch hunt is not a harbinger of things to come, but I fear that it is. Neither the grand jury investigation law nor the public intimidation law was intended to be used as a political weapon by a rogue, biased, vindictive special prosecutor, judge, and grand jury. I hope the legislature in the future will ensure this cannot happen again.”
Murrill was indicted Thursday by an Orleans Parish grand jury on 16 felony counts tied to a letter she sent to several Orleans Parish leaders after lawmakers passed a bill combining the Orleans Parish courts.
The grand jury met on July 2 and reviewed evidence from special prosecutor Laurie White. Jurors returned a true bill, which means they found probable cause for the charges to move forward.
The indictment includes eight counts of public intimidation and eight counts of malfeasance in office.
The public intimidation counts fall under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:122. The law generally bars threats, intimidation or pressure meant to influence how a public official does their job.
The malfeasance counts fall under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:134. That law generally applies when a public official is accused of intentionally failing to perform a duty required by law or improperly carrying out official duties.
A judge set bond at $25,000 for each count. The total bond is $400,000 across all 16 counts.
The indictment formally charges Murrill and allows the case to move forward in court.
In a statement provided to WDSU, Murrill states, “After taking on violent crime and entrenched corruption in New Orleans, it’s no surprise the status quo is looking for ways to stop me.
This unprecedented action and the corrupt indictments spawned from it are retaliatory, meritless, and unconstitutional. After confidential information was illegally leaked to members of the press by the grand jury or the improperly appointed, unqualified special prosecutor, there are now indications that the court handcuffed and locked out members of the media—and threatened them with contempt—in clear violation of Louisiana law. It is beyond ironic that the improperly appointed special prosecutor, who called my office and violated the confidentiality of the grand jury proceedings herself, claims protecting confidentiality justified closing the courtroom. And the grand jury that leaked information like a sinking ship hardly seemed concerned about privacy.
I will be immediately filing an emergency supervisory writ with the Louisiana Supreme Court. Hopefully this will be sorted out quickly.
I will not back down. I will continue enforcing the law, fighting corruption, and doing the job the people of Louisiana elected me to do.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry posted the following message on X, “I would like to inform the great citizens of Louisiana who care about the rule of law, that our fabulous Office of the Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill will not have to worry about having her reputation tarnished by this kangaroo grand jury or the Orleans Kangaroo court as I will pardon her as fast as the law allows. The criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans and we will not have any of that!”
In a later post on X, the Governor stated, “Based on the information contained in the motion by @AGLizMurrill, I am ordering the State Police to immediately begin investigating the alleged improprieties of this grand jury and those who ran it!”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill responded Tuesday to the investigation into allegations she sent threatening letters to elected officials in Orleans Parish, including Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams, and five city council members.
Murrill said she first learned about the investigation through media reports on Monday.
Judge Leon Roche appointed former Orleans Parish Judge Laurie White as special prosecutor.
White was appointed as a special prosecutor because the grand jury is looking into the state’s top prosecutor, according to sources.
The investigation follows months of tension between the attorney general and Orleans Parish officials.
After the state legislature passed a bill merging Orleans Parish criminal and civil courts, elected Clerk of Court Calvin Duncan was ousted. In response, Orleans Parish officials appointed Judge Calvin Johnson as interim clerk and called for a special election.
Murrill then sent letters to New Orleans officials warning that their actions could result in the mayor, district attorney, and council members losing their positions. Those letters are reportedly at the center of the investigation.
Sources told WDSU that the grand jury initiated the investigation, which is considered uncommon. Several witnesses have already appeared before the grand jury, and the jury is expected to reach a decision on the matter later this week.
Murrill said she had not been notified of any investigation.
“All I have are hearsay reports, because I haven’t,” Murrill said.
Sources say it is connected to letters the AG sent to New Orleans city leaders. When contacted by phone, White had no comment for WDSU.
Murrill sent letters to New Orleans officials warning that their attempt to install a competing Orleans Parish clerk of court would trigger serious consequences under Louisiana’s usurper laws, warning that the actions taken by the council and mayor could result in the possible forfeiture of their positions.
The letters were sent to New Orleans City Council members, Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams, and the Honorable Calvin Johnson.
The attorney general warned that the council’s resolutions to appoint Judge Calvin Johnson as interim clerk and call a special election rested “on the false narrative that Act 15 created a new, vacant office.”
According to Murrill, the law did not create a vacancy, but rather eliminated the criminal clerk’s office position that Calvin Duncan won.
“Act 15 did not create a vacancy. It abolished the former criminal clerk’s office, transferred its authority, duties, records, and funds to the former civil clerk’s office, and renamed that continuing office the clerk of court for Orleans Parish. Chelsey Richard Napoleon remains the lawful clerk of court for Orleans Parish,” the letter said.
“I specifically asked the Council to wait for the Louisiana Supreme Court to weigh in. Instead, they knowingly refused and moved forward with resolutions that attempt to displace Chelsey Richard Napoleon from her lawful office as Clerk of Court for Orleans Parish. There is no vacancy, and no public official should recognize this fictional office or Judge Calvin Johnson’s purported appointment to it. Louisiana’s usurper laws carry serious consequences, and my office will enforce them,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill in a news release issued on Wednesday.
Murrill called on the council to rescind or suspend its resolutions, and urged them to “take no further action recognizing the disputed office or appointment.”
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno issued a video statement, calling the letter a threat.
She urged Murrill to let the matter play out in court and stressed she would not be intimidated.
“I will not be intimidated or threatened by the state attorney general,” Moreno said. “I won’t back down.”
See her full video statement here.
READ MORE:Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill indicted on 16 felony counts
