James is a longtime antagonist of President Donald Trump, who publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to target her weeks before she was indicted.
James pleaded not guilty to one count each of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution during her arraignment in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia.
James has decried the charges as “baseless,” calling her indictment “nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.”
Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan, in a highly unusual move, personally presented evidence about James to a grand jury before it issued the indictment. U.S. attorneys normally have assistant U.S. attorneys present evidence to grand juries.
James plans to file a motion Friday that will ask for her case to be dismissed while challenging “the unlawful appointment” of Halligan, the AG’s lawyers told the court Thursday.
Halligan was installed as U.S. Attorney after her predecessor, Erik Siebert, resigned under pressure from Trump.
Siebert had balked at seeking indictments against James and former FBI Director James Comey, another Trump foe who was indicted after Halligan presented evidence to another grand jury.
Halligan previously served as one of Trump’s personal lawyers.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
