Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Thursday that she knows nothing about a reported grand jury investigation into her in New Orleans, other than what has already been reported.
"I do not have any direct information about whether this is actually happening," Murrill said.
The reports say that a New Orleans grand jury is investigating whether Murrill made illegal threats to remove Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams, and others from office.
Murrill did allude to that in a response to city leaders appointing an interim criminal court clerk, after a new law went into effect combining that clerk's office with the civil court clerk.
Murrill said then that city officials may have violated Louisiana's usurper law, calling it a violation of the state legislature's constitutional authority and an illegal attempt to remove the Orleans Civil Court Clerk, Chelsea Napoleon.
"The constitution of our state allowed the legislature to legislate when it involves the Orleans' clerk's office," Murrill said Thursday. "My job is to defend those laws. It is also to presume they are constitutional. That same presumption applies to everyone in office."
A court case nullified the city council's action, canceling the special election and installing Napoleon as the new clerk in the combined office.
The grand jury reportedly launched this inquiry on its own. NOLA.com reports D.A. Williams has recused himself from the matter, and former Orleans Criminal Court Judge Laurie White is acting as special prosecutor.
