“The remarks of presidents and state attorneys general are important, but they do not have any bearing on the evidence on which the United States and the grand jury have relied in proceeding with indictment,” federal prosecutors wrote.
Prosecutors sought to distance the case from Ed Martin, the special attorney for mortgage matters within the administration, who, before the indictment, had participated in a newspaper photo shoot in front of James’ residence and urged her to step down.
The attorneys argued that Martin’s highly unusual target letter “discloses the government’s perspective on how Defendant can timely accept responsibility and demonstrate respect for the law,” and does not demonstrate vindictiveness, ABC noted.
“Defendant makes much of the involvement of Ed Martin. Martin is not the United States Attorney, he did not sign the Indictment, and he was not the decision-maker in this process,” the filing said.
James has pleaded not guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution. Prosecutors allege she misrepresented a property she bought in Norfolk, Virginia, claiming it was a second home rather than an investment property in order to secure a lower mortgage rate. James has said she purchased the home in 2020 for her great-niece and allowed her and her children to live there rent-free. Continue reading…
