Federal prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss the case against Nathalie Rose Jones, who had been charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump, after a grand jury declined to return an indictment, according to a court filing and the defendant's lawyer.
A one-page filing by the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington says dismissing the case "is in the interests of justice" but offers no further explanation. Jones had been scheduled to appear Monday for a preliminary hearing.
Jones's attorney, Mary Petras, asked the court to dismiss the case "with prejudice," which would prevent prosecutors from reviving the charge. In a court filing, Petras wrote, "Given the grand jury’s decision, Ms. Jones should not be forced to live under the threat of later charges and rearrest."
Prosecutors had charged Jones in a federal case that centered on an alleged threat to kill the president. The U.S. Attorney's office did not provide additional details in the brief filing explaining why it sought dismissal, and court papers filed publicly did not disclose evidence presented to the grand jury.
The decision to drop the case follows a series of courtroom and prosecutorial setbacks encountered by federal authorities in Washington as the Justice Department has expanded law-enforcement activity in the capital. Legal observers have noted several instances in which charges in high-profile matters were dismissed or altered after grand juries or judges reviewed the cases.
Because the office's filing gave no substantive explanation, it was unclear whether prosecutors will pursue any alternate charges or administrative actions. The dismissal ends the immediate federal prosecution of Jones unless the court denies the motion or a subsequent, separate charging decision is made by prosecutors.
Court records show the dismissal request was filed by the local U.S. Attorney's office. The office has authority to pursue or decline federal charges; its one-page request cited the broad standard of the "interests of justice" without elaboration. Defense counsel argued in filings that a dismissal with prejudice was appropriate in light of the grand jury's determination.
No further statements from the U.S. Attorney's office or from the Department of Justice were immediately available. Jones remains free of the federal charge while the court considers the dismissal motion and any related requests by her attorney.