Judge Orders Chicago U.S. Attorney to Testify in Broadview Case
Perry set the testimony for November 16 and said it would address grand jury transcripts, edits made to them and statements about the case given in court. She said Boutros’ claim that he learned of alleged misconduct only in April was difficult to accept. The judge noted that the grand jury had initially declined to indict and Boutros had to approve presenting the case again.
The prosecution concerned six people charged after a September 2025 protest outside an immigration detention facility in Broadview, Illinois. Prosecutors alleged that protesters conspired to impede a federal agent after a crowd pushed and damaged the agent’s vehicle. Perry dismissed the case on May 21 after reviewing grand jury records and identifying alleged misconduct, including the handling of jurors who opposed indictment.
Boutros said previously that he had not known about the alleged conduct before the case was dismissed. On November 2, former Chicago FBI chief Douglas DePodesta also sued Boutros and other Trump administration officials, alleging that Boutros blamed him for the failed prosecution and that pressure contributed to his resignation in July.
The testimony order followed a dispute over records Perry requested as she considers whether to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged wrongdoing. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward told the judge on Friday that the government had not agreed to provide the information and asked her to explain the scope of any investigation. Perry has not ruled on the special-prosecutor request.
Broadview Case Misconduct Brings U.S. Attorney Under Oath
A federal judge is demanding sworn answers from Chicago’s top federal prosecutor after grand jury records exposed alleged misconduct in the Broadview Six case. Judge April Perry said it was hard to accept Andrew Boutros’ claim that he did not know about problems until April, especially because the grand jury first declined to indict and Boutros approved trying again.
The case targeted six people arrested after a 2025 protest outside an immigration detention facility in Broadview, Illinois. Prosecutors accused them of conspiring to impede a federal agent. Perry dismissed the charges in May after finding troubling conduct in the grand jury process, including how dissenting jurors were handled.
Perry ordered Boutros and three prosecutors to testify on November 16 about the transcripts, changes to them and statements made in court. The stakes extend beyond the dismissed charges: she is considering appointing a special prosecutor to investigate alleged federal misconduct.
Former FBI official Douglas DePodesta sued Boutros and other Trump administration officials on November 2, alleging that Boutros tried to make him responsible for the failed case and that pressure led to his resignation. Meanwhile, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward has resisted Perry’s records request, saying the government has not agreed to provide the material. The judge has yet to decide whether to appoint a special prosecutor.
Judge Escalates Dispute Over Failed Broadview Prosecution
The Broadview Six prosecution has already collapsed, but Judge April Perry is now compelling Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and three prosecutors to answer questions under oath. Her order puts a federal prosecutor’s decisions and courtroom statements under scrutiny as she weighs a further investigation.
The case arose from a 2025 protest outside an immigration detention facility in Broadview, Illinois. Prosecutors charged six people with conspiring to impede a federal agent after a crowd pushed and damaged the agent’s vehicle. Perry dismissed the charges in May after reviewing grand jury transcripts and identifying alleged misconduct, including the treatment of jurors who opposed the case.
Perry says Boutros’ claim that he learned of the alleged conduct only in April is difficult to credit. She points to the grand jury’s initial refusal to indict and Boutros’ approval of presenting the case again. He and three prosecutors must testify on November 16 about the transcripts, their redactions and statements made in court.
The order comes amid a separate lawsuit by former FBI official Douglas DePodesta, who accuses Boutros and other Trump administration officials of making him a scapegoat and forcing his resignation. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward has challenged the judge’s records request, saying the government has not agreed to provide the information. Perry has not decided whether to appoint a special prosecutor.
Reported by Chicago Sun-Times, CBS Chicago.
