NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – An Orleans Parish grand jury has indicted Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill in connection with a probe into alleged threats she made to New Orleans city leaders in May, according to Orleans Criminal Court Judge Laurie White.<\/p>\n
A $400,000 bond was set for Murrill, according to official records.<\/p>\n
The attorney general is facing 16 felony counts: eight counts of public intimidation and eight counts of malfeasance in office.<\/p>\n
Murrill\u2019s letters<\/p>\n
The decision comes after sources told Fox 8 Tuesday evening the grand jury began investigating letters Murrill sent Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams and five city councilmembers in May.<\/p>\n
The letters came during a dispute over the state legislature\u2019s move to eliminate the city\u2019s criminal clerk of court position and consolidate the office with the civil clerk. <\/p>\n
The City Council voted to appoint the interim clerk, former judge Calvin Johnson, and called for a special election \u2014 a move Moreno and Williams supported at the time.<\/p>\n
The Louisiana Supreme Court later struck down the council\u2019s resolutions, blocked the special election and ordered the civil clerk, Chelsey Richard Napoleon, to serve as the consolidated clerk as required by the new law.<\/p>\n
Murrill defended the letters Wednesday but said she had no direct knowledge of any grand jury inquiry into them.<\/p>\n
In those letters, Murrill warned the officials their actions could trigger \u201cserious consequences\u201d under Louisiana law, including possible removal from office.<\/p>\n
Shortly after receiving the letter back in May, Mayor Moreno had posted a defiant response on social media, saying Louisiana criminal law prohibits threats or intimidation against public officials to influence their policies or decisions.<\/p>\n
Public officials react<\/p>\n
Following Murrill\u2019s indictment, Moreno issued a statement saying \u201ctoday\u2019s development involving the Attorney General is a matter for the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy focus, as always, remains on fulfilling the responsibilities the people of New Orleans elected me to carry out,” she said. “My priority is to keep delivering results, keep building on that progress, and keep moving New Orleans forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to the indictment, Governor Jeff Landry posted on X that he will pardon Murrill \u201cas fast as the law allows.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to inform the great citizens of Louisiana who care about the rule of law, that our fabulous [Attorney General Murrill] will not have to worry about having her reputation tarnished by this kangaroo grand jury or the Orleans Kangaroo court as I will pardon her as fast as the law allows,\u201d he said. \u201cThe criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans and we will not have any of that!\u201d<\/p>\n
I would like to inform the great citizens of Louisiana who care about the rule of law, that our fabulous @AGLizMurrill<\/a> will not have to worry about having her reputation tarnished by this kangaroo grand jury or the Orleans Kangaroo court as I will pardon her as fast as the law\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) July 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Previous coverageRelated coverage<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here<\/a> to report it. Please include the headline.<\/p>\n