The special prosecutor in the criminal case against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has moved to dismiss the charges on which she was indicted.
According to our partners at NOLA.com, special prosecutor Laurie White dropped the 16-count indictment against Murrill Wednesday morning.
The July 2 indictment came after Murrill sent a letter to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno and other city leaders threatening to remove them from their positions if they sought to hold a special election after Governor Jeff Landry signed into a law a bill consolidating the Orleans Parish civil and criminal clerks of courts offices. The grand jury formally charged Murrill with malfeasance in office and public intimidation charges.
White's decision is in response to calls from Moreno, city council members, and retired judge Calvin Johnson urging White to dismiss the felony charges.
One political analyst says this is exactly what the city and the state governments need to keep New Orleans moving forward.
"I think this was a moment of leadership to restart dialogue between the state and the city," Tulane University political science adjunct professor Mike Sherman said, adding that city leaders were anxious for the charges to be dropped so they can resume their partnership with state officials. "This last six months, you've had the (district attorney) working with the attorney general for over a year. State prosecutors (are) in the Orleans Parish criminal courthouse. You have the State Police working with the NOPD. We have a string of incredible events. New jobs are coming to Louisiana. There's a sense of optimism."
Sherman says White's decision to dismiss the indictment reflects not only the will of local leaders but also of the general public.
"I think it sparks what most voters want, which is not political divisiveness or infighting but elected officials working together," Sherman said. "I think this was a moment of leadership to restart dialogue between the state and the city."
The million-dollar question, Sherman says, is: How will Governor Jeff Landry respond?
"I think the ball is back in the governor's court. Shane Guidry, the governor's most important advisor, telegraphed something," Sherman said. "He said before this reunification can happen, the indictment needs to go away. Whether the mayor and council saw that and tried extending an olive branch, (or) whether it was Shane Guidry laying out a path forward, what is important is that olive branch has been extended."
According to Sherman, Landry has major motivation to let bygones be bygones.
"I think the state and city are going to work together with Mrs. (Gayle) Benson and the Saints Organization to get the Super Bowl in 2031," Sherman said. "I think there are 20 other things the city and the state can work on. This one's going to take awhile moving forward, but I think we have an off-ramp here."
