Trump's DOJ in FULL TAILSPIN as Cases Crumble - Legal AF

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Brian Kabateck and Shant Karnikian discuss the unprecedented collapse of the Trump administration's prosecution of New York Attorney General Letitia James. After a judge dismissed the original October indictment because prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed, the DOJ attempted to re-indict James twice in one week—and both grand juries refused.

On December 4th, a Norfolk grand jury returned a "no true bill," rejecting the mortgage fraud charges. Seven days later, an Alexandria grand jury also declined to indict. The hosts explain grand jury proceedings have an extremely low bar—prosecutors control the presentation, defense attorneys aren't present, hearsay is allowed, and there's a saying that "prosecutors can indict a ham sandwich." The fact that two grand juries rejected the case is extraordinary and signals the evidence is insufficient.

The charges alleged James misrepresented a Norfolk property as her second residence on mortgage paperwork to save roughly $50 monthly, but her attorneys presented evidence she corrected the record and submitted sworn declarations at the time. The hosts emphasize this appears to be political prosecution targeting a Trump adversary who previously defeated him in a $370 million civil fraud lawsuit, but the judicial system is refusing to succumb to political pressure. - 12/19/2025.