An Orleans Parish Grand Jury has handed down a 16-count felony indictment against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stemming from letters she sent to New Orleans officials in May over the consolidation of the Orleans Parish civil and criminal district courts. In the letters, Murrill said Mayor Helena Moreno and other elected individuals could be removed from office if they continued to push for a special election to name an interim clerk, which the state argued was not needed. Special prosecutor Laurie White said Murrill broke Louisiana’s law that prohibits public intimidation and retaliation.
“We’re very interested in elected officials in New Orleans not being intimidated or threatened by letter or any other way,” said White.
Murrill faces eight counts of public intimidation and eight counts of malfeasance in office. The attorney representing Murrill, Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, said the elected officials who received the letters violated the state’s usurper laws by defying a newly passed law approved by state lawmakers, and the state’s highest court backed her position.
“She is legally required to uphold the law, and the (Louisiana) Supreme Court said she was correct,” said Rodrigue. “What she says about the law was correct. That was accurate.”
The Louisiana Supreme Court blocked the special election and ordered Chelsey Richard Napoleon to serve as consolidated clerk as required by state law.
The indictment of Murrill is the latest in a growing rift between leaders in New Orleans and Governor Landry and his attorney general. White said Murrill was trying to intimidate the public officials with her letters
“Aren’t we a little tired as New Orleanians also having everyone in the state kicking New Orleans, and why would we want people to be afraid to run for office if they’re going to be intimidated?” said White.
Her bond was set at $400,000, $25,000 for each felony count. Rodrigue believes that’s excessive.
“We’re not seeing that on crimes of violence in the city of New Orleans,” said Rodrigue. “So really think about that, and apply that and ask yourselves, ‘What does that say about the city of New Orleans in terms of criminal justice?"”
Governor Jeff Landry said Murrill was indicted by a kangaroo grand jury and added that the criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans. He says he’ll pardon her as fast the law allows.