Overview
- Special prosecutor Laurie White announced she nolle prossed all 16 felony counts against Attorney General Liz Murrill after New Orleans leaders told her they did not feel intimidated by Murrill’s May letters.
- The Louisiana Supreme Court had already issued an extraordinary stay that paused the prosecution and allowed Murrill to file defensive pleadings including a motion to quash the indictment.
- Murrill had sought broad subpoenas for emails and records from White and recused Orleans Parish DA Jason Williams to probe how the secret grand-jury inquiry began, and those subpoenas are now the subject of competing motions.
- Murrill’s lawyers allege White improperly tried to dissuade the grand jury and violated secrecy rules, while White and Williams say the subpoena effort is a retaliatory fishing expedition and they moved to quash the requests.
- The episode has spurred political fallout, prompted a state police probe ordered by Governor Jeff Landry, and raised questions about grand-jury secrecy, recusal rules, and whether the charges can be revived once legal disputes are resolved.