Louisiana: Republican attorney general indicted on criminal charges
Liz Murrill accused of trying to intimidate officials who opposed GOP-enacted law to overhaul local courts
Louisiana’s Republican attorney general was indicted on Thursday on criminal charges by a grand jury in New Orleans, accused of trying to intimidate local officials who fought a law enacted by GOP legislators to overhaul the local courts.
Liz Murrill, the attorney general, told eight New Orleans officials, including Helena Moreno, the mayor, and Jason Williams, the district attorney, that they could face removal from their jobs because of their opposition to the law.
It eliminated the position of Orleans parish criminal court clerk after Calvin Duncan, a man who spent decades in prison for a wrongful conviction, was elected to the post with 68% of the vote.
Legislators approved the law at the urging of the Republican governor, Jeff Landry, just days before Duncan was to take office in May. Duncan’s supporters saw it as a move by a majority-white conservative legislature to thwart the will of voters in a predominantly Black Democratic hub in a red state.
On Thursday, Landry called the New Orleans criminal justice system “a circus at its finest” and promised to pardon Murrill on the 16 charges against her “as fast as the law allows”.
The Republican Attorneys General Association called the indictment “as outrageous as it is dangerous”.
The GOP group said in making her statements, Murrill was simply “issuing a legal opinion and warning public officials about the law” as part of her official duties. Murrill’s critics saw it as an attempt to intimidate them into accepting the law.
About the Author
On one hand legislators approved the law at the urging of the Republican governor, Jeff Landry, just days before Duncan was to take office in May. But at the same time on Thursday, Landry called the New Orleans criminal justice system “a circus at its finest” and promised to pardon Murrill on the 16 charges against her “as fast as the law allows”.
Still waiting to hear what Helena Moreno actually plans to do about it.
Think about it: the Republican Attorneys General Association called the indictment “as outrageous as it is dangerous”. That speaks volumes.
The detail about the Republican Attorneys General Association called the indictment “as outrageous as it is dangerous” is something people should sit with.
The fact that legislators approved the law at the urging of the Republican governor, Jeff Landry, just days before Duncan was to take office in May really puts things into perspective.
Legislators approved the law at the urging of the Republican governor, Jeff Landry, just days before Duncan was to take office in May. Meanwhile on Thursday, Landry called the New Orleans criminal justice system “a circus at its finest” and promised to pardon Murrill on the 16 charges against her “as fast as the law allows”.
The bigger issue here is liz Murrill accused of trying to intimidate officials who opposed GOP-enacted law to overhaul local. That changes the calculation.
Reading that on Thursday, Landry called the New Orleans criminal justice system “a circus at its finest” and promised to pardon Murrill on the 16 charges against her “as fast as the law allows” — hard to argue with the logic there.
Still waiting to hear what Liz Murrill actually plans to do about it.
Helena Moreno has been vocal about this, good to see them staying on it.
The detail about on Thursday, Landry called the New Orleans criminal justice system “a circus at its finest” and promised to pardon Murrill on the 16 charges against her “as fast as the law allows” is something people should sit with.
Liz Murrill accused of trying to intimidate officials who opposed GOP-enacted law to overhaul local. Meanwhile it eliminated the position of Orleans parish criminal court clerk after Calvin Duncan, a man who spent decades in prison for a wrongful conviction, was elected to the post with 68% of the vote.
In other words the Republican Attorneys General Association called the indictment “as outrageous as it is dangerous”. Curious to see how this develops.
Reading that it eliminated the position of Orleans parish criminal court clerk after Calvin Duncan, a man who spent decades in prison for a wrongful conviction, was elected to the post with 68% of the vote — hard to argue with the logic there.
What stands out is on Thursday, Landry called the New Orleans criminal justice system “a circus at its finest” and promised to pardon Murrill on the 16 charges against her “as fast as the law allows”. That is the part worth paying attention to.