‘It’s not over’: Landry, Murrill tout consequences for New Orleans after AG indictment 

“It’s not over,” Murrill said. “You can’t be friends with somebody who wants to put you in jail for 80 years. Mutual professional courtesy and professional working relationships, absolutely. We have always extended that to the city of New Orleans and its leadership, no matter how bad their decision making is.” 

Before her indictment was withdrawn earlier Wednesday, Murrill faced 16 criminal charges related to a letter she sent in May to Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams and five members of the New Orleans City Council. The attorney general warned the officials they were acting illegally by attempting to circumvent a new state law that consolidated the city’s dual court clerk offices.

On July 2, an Orleans Parish grand jury handed up an indictment against Murrill for public intimidation and malfeasance in office. Moreno and Williams have said they did not instigate the court investigation into the attorney general.

Murrill and Landry, both Republicans, were visibly upset during Wednesday afternoon’s news conference, both raising their voices as they expressed their anger with Democrats Moreno and Williams. Murrill repeatedly maintained her innocence and alleged the charges were only brought due to city leaders’ political affiliations.

Murrill said she is pursuing consequences not because she’s angry but because she believes that if the grand jury system can be used to indict a sitting attorney general, she believes it can be weaponized against anyone. 

Moreno, Williams and the council members sent letters Tuesday to special prosecutor Laurie White asking her to drop the charges against Murrill. White did so Wednesday morning.

Murrill said her attorneys had filed subpoenas in the criminal case seeking public records from New Orleans’ officials related to their efforts to name an interim clerk of court. A court hearing was set for Friday regarding the subpoenas, according to the attorney general. City officials sought to withdraw the indictment against Murrill, but she said it was not an effort to smooth relations between state and city leaders.

“I think it’s because they want to hide records,” Murrill said.

New Orleans’ leaders might have broken some of the same laws Murrill was accused of violating, she said.

The governor has already directed Louisiana State Police to investigate the grand jury that charged Murrill, and U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, has written to FBI Director Kash Patel asking him to suss out whether the grand jury was properly convened or used for political retaliation. 

Landry also suggested Williams and City Councilman JP Morrell, both lawyers, should be disbarred. 

Murrill said she will pursue civil litigation and intends to seek reimbursement from the state for her ongoing legal costs, which she pegged at $250,000. 

In addition to the investigations, Landry said state lawmakers have expressed interest in convening a special session to explore taking more control of the Orleans Parish court system. Unlike the state’s other 40 judicial districts, Orleans has separate civil and criminal courts. 

Landry can call a special session for any topic as long as he gives lawmakers seven days notice before convening the session. 

During the legislative session that ended June 1, Republican lawmakers voted to eliminate three Orleans Criminal Court judgeships. Funding was also revoked for 10 district attorneys in the city, with the money directed to other parishes, in addition to the criminal clerk of court’s office being abolished. 

This is a developing story.

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