Louisiana attorney general indicted over alleged threats to New Orleans officials
An Orleans Parish grand jury on July 2 indicted Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, a Republican, on 16 felony counts — eight of public intimidation and eight of malfeasance in office, The Hill reports . The charges stem from letters Murrill sent in May to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams and five city council members.
The letters went out during a dispute over a state move to eliminate the city’s criminal clerk of court position and fold it into the civil clerk’s office. Prosecutors allege the correspondence amounted to threats against the local officials resisting that change.
Governor Jeff Landry condemned the indictment and said he would pardon Murrill “as fast as the law allows” if she is convicted. In practice the governor cannot act unilaterally: a Louisiana pardon requires a recommendation from the state pardon and parole board, which can only take up a case after a conviction. The indictment sets up a prolonged confrontation between the state’s top law-enforcement officer and New Orleans prosecutors, with the governor already signaling he will intervene on Murrill’s behalf.