Overview
- Bill Essayli’s office filed 38 felony complaints against anti-ICE demonstrators but has secured only seven grand jury indictments so far
- Los Angeles federal grand juries have repeatedly refused to indict on probable-cause grounds, an exceptionally rare outcome in such proceedings
- An irate Essayli was overheard yelling at prosecutors outside a grand jury room after jurors declined to indict a protester accused of attacking law enforcement
- Essayli allegedly instructed staff to disregard the Justice Manual and pursue indictments as directed by Attorney General Pam Bondi
- Defense attorneys point to flawed ICE and CBP affidavits and ‘arrest-first, ask-questions-later’ tactics as reasons jurors are finding insufficient probable cause