Judge rejects Justice Department bid to halt probe of prosecutors in Broadview Six case
Judge April Perry has ordered four federal prosecutors, including Chicago's U.S. attorney, to testify under oath about the case.
U.S. District Judge April Perry canceled a hearing the Justice Department had requested to clarify her authority to investigate whether prosecutors misled her court in the "Broadview Six" case against anti-ICE protesters. Perry wrote that the government's lack of clarity about her authority was immaterial.
Perry has ordered U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and three assistant U.S. attorneys to testify under oath on Monday about possible misconduct in grand jury proceedings. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward argued in a filing that forcing prosecutors to testify would create a "Catch-22," but Perry rejected that argument, noting that most of those asked to testify had not been represented by the government and two had said they were willing to testify.
The Justice Department dropped the criminal case against the six protesters in May amid misconduct allegations involving former prosecutor Sheri Mecklenburg, who later resigned. Perry's inquiry has continued, and she could use the testimony to decide whether sanctions or criminal contempt proceedings are warranted. Separately, the department has declined to disclose certain communications, and Perry rejected its privilege log on Tuesday.
Key points
- Judge April Perry canceled a Nov. 17 hearing requested by the Justice Department.
- Four federal prosecutors, including U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, must testify under oath Monday.
- The Justice Department dropped the case against the six protesters in May.
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Summarized with AI from the sources above and reviewed before publishing.
