BREAKING: In a stunning legal maneuver, interim U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan, appointed by Donald Trump in late September, has reportedly bypassed Attorney General Pam Bondi to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. The move has sparked controversy and confusion within the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Officials confirm that Bondi was “caught off guard” by Halligan’s indictment of James on September 28, 2023. Senior DOJ leaders were unaware that Halligan was presenting evidence to a grand jury until after the indictment was issued, raising significant questions about the integrity of the judicial process.
During a CNN interview, former U.S. attorney Harry Litman described Halligan’s actions as “funky” and “nuts,” highlighting the unusual secrecy surrounding the indictment. “All the evidence seems very strong that it was directed or it was in order to satisfy Trump’s urge for a reprisal prosecution,” Litman stated.
Halligan, who lacks courtroom experience, previously served as an insurance lawyer and was brought onto Trump’s legal team in connection with his classified documents case at Mar-a-Lago. That case ended when U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the charges in July 2024.
Litman emphasized the implications of Halligan’s actions, stating, “Did she just completely bypass DOJ leadership and go directly to the top? That would be very anomalous and improper.” He underscored the potential motivations behind the indictment, questioning if it was a form of reprisal against political opponents.
Halligan’s rapid rise to her current position follows the dismissal of her predecessor, Erik Siebert, who faced backlash for refusing to pursue charges against James and other Trump critics. “Anyway you slice it, something really weird happened here,” Litman added, as the legal ramifications of Halligan’s decisions continue to unfold.
As this story develops, legal experts and political analysts are closely monitoring the situation for its potential impact on the DOJ and future prosecutions. The unusual circumstances surrounding Halligan’s indictment of James are likely to ignite further debate about the politicization of the justice system.
Stay tuned for more updates as this urgent situation evolves. The implications of Halligan’s actions could resonate far beyond this single indictment, drawing in leadership from across the DOJ and raising critical questions about the integrity of the legal process.
