Louisiana Grand Jury Indicts Attorney General on 16 Counts of Intimidation and Malfeasance

A New Orleans grand jury indicted Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on 16 counts including intimidation and malfeasance on July 2. The indictment accuses her of threatening local officials with removal from office if they proceeded with actions she believed violated state law. Bond for Murrill was set at $400,000 according to court records.

Assistant District Attorney Laurie White is prosecuting the case and stated she expects it to be very simple and very open and shut. Murrill posted on X that the indictment is retaliatory, meritless, and unconstitutional. She added that she will not back down and will continue enforcing the law, fighting corruption, and doing the job the people of Louisiana elected her to do.

Gov. Jeff Landry stated he would pardon Murrill as fast as the law allows. He described the proceedings as a kangaroo grand jury and ordered the State Police to investigate alleged improprieties of the grand jury and those who ran it.

The charges arise from a dispute over a law that eliminated the elected Orleans Parish criminal court clerk position after Calvin Duncan won the office with 68 percent of the vote. Louisiana lawmakers approved the overhaul at Landry's urging just days before Duncan was to take office in May 2026.

Murrill had warned eight New Orleans officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams, that they could face removal for opposing the law.

The Republican Attorneys General Association said Murrill was issuing a legal opinion and warning public officials about the law as part of her official duties, and called the indictment as outrageous as it is dangerous. Moreno stated the indictment is a matter for the courts and that her focus remains on fulfilling the responsibilities the people of New Orleans elected her to carry out.

White said in response to Landry's pardon pledge that the priority is to get her convicted first.