Even though the 16-count indictment against her has been dismissed, Attorney General Liz Murrill wants to get to the bottom of how it all happened. Under Governor Landry’s directive, State Police have launched a criminal investigation into the grand jury which indicted her. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says this is unprecedented on several fronts, including the fact that Murrill’s office generally does not have criminal jurisdiction over matters in Orleans Parish.
“But since Mr. Williams’ office has recused itself, perhaps she’ll use that recusal as a basis for her own office’s independent investigation,” Ciolino said.
Ciolino says there’s also the potential issue of a conflict of interest.
“She certainly, as a criminal defendant in the indictment, she should not certainly exercise her role as the chief legal officer of the state under those circumstances,” Ciolino noted.
One day after the grand jury handed down the indictment, Congressman Clay Higgins asked FBI Director Kash Patel to look into whether the grand jury was properly convened or was used for political retaliation. Ciolino says federal investigators would be wasting their time.
“I cannot imagine a federal crime being implicated by what an Orleans Parish grand jury did under these circumstances; and the federal government should have matters of more importance to look into than this,” Ciolino said.
Murrill is also seeking reimbursement from the state for her legal fees, which she says are around $250,000.