Liz Murrill indictment intensifies New Orleans-Baton Rouge power struggle

The big picture: An Orleans Parish grand jury on Thursday indicted Murrill on 16 felony counts including intimidation and malfeasance.

• Prosecutors allege Murrill used the authority of her office to threaten to remove Mayor Helena Moreno and the majority of the City Council over a dispute about who should serve as Orleans Parish clerk of court.
• Murrill called the charges a "political witch hunt" and said she hopes the Legislature "will ensure this cannot happen again."
• The Louisiana Supreme Court stayed the indictment and recalled the warrant for Murrill's arrest, AP reports.

What they're saying: Gov. Jeff Landry says he'll pardon Murrill "as fast as the law allows."

• "The criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans and we will not have any of that!" he posted on X, calling it a "kangaroo grand jury."
• Landry said he was ordering Louisiana State Police to investigate what he called "alleged improprieties" of the grand jury, AP reports.
• Retired judge Laurie White, the special prosecutor in the case, told reporters she thinks of the case as "very simple" and "open and shut."
• Moreno, in a statement, said Murrill's indictment is a "matter for the courts" and her focus is on "moving New Orleans forward."

Between the lines: Despite the increasingly bitter rhetoric, Moreno's administration needs the state's help and approval for funding and other key decisions.

• Moreno inherited a financial crisis from LaToya Cantrell's administration and has had to rely on the state to help stabilize the city's finances.
• The State Bond Commission has approved two loan requests so far.
• The city also relies on the state for funds for capital projects. The mayor decried the governor's recent decision to veto $33 million in earmarks for city projects.
• "It's deeply disappointing to see so many investments in our city singled out for elimination," Moreno's statement says.

What's next: Murrill says she's asking the courts to dismiss the case.