The Center Square) — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill was indicted Thursday by an Orleans Parish grand jury in a case stemming from letters she sent New Orleans officials during a dispute over the restructuring of the citys local courts.
Murrill faces 16 felony counts, including eight counts of public intimidation and eight counts of malfeasance in office. A $400,000 bond was set.
The indictment centers on May letters Murrill sent to Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams and several City Council members after the council moved to appoint an interim clerk and call a special election following a state law that abolished the Orleans Parish criminal clerk of court’s office and consolidated it with the civil clerk’s office.
Murrill’s office said at the time that the city’s action could trigger “serious consequences” under Louisiana’s usurper laws, including possible forfeiture of office. “Louisiana’s usurper laws carry serious consequences, and I will enforce them,” Murrill said in the May announcement.
The Louisiana Supreme Court later struck down the council’s resolutions, blocked the special election and ordered civil clerk Chelsey Richard Napoleon to serve as the consolidated clerk, as required by the new law.
Gov. Jeff Landry blasted the indictment Thursday, saying on X that he would pardon Murrill “as fast as the law allows.” He called the proceeding a “kangaroo grand jury” and said the Orleans criminal justice system is “a circus at its finest.”
Assistant Attorney General Laurie White, who is prosecuting the case, told reporters the issue is whether New Orleans officials were threatened or intimidated. “We’re very interested in elected officials in New Orleans not being intimidated or threatened by letter or any other way,” White said in a press conference.
Moreno, in a statement after the indictment, said the matter is now for the courts. “My focus, as always, remains on fulfilling the responsibilities the people of New Orleans elected me to carry out,” she said.
Murrill defended the letters Wednesday before the indictment was reported.
“I can’t explain why they do things in New Orleans the way they do them, but I would say I’m not surprised,” Murrill said. “I have to do my job. Whatever anybody else does, I will continue to do my job as attorney general the way that I think is appropriate.”
