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2mo ago

Chicago U.S. Attorney Drops Cases and Orders Review After Prosecutor’s Grand‑Jury Misconduct

Boutros says the review will cover more than 100 grand‑jury proceedings, risking further dismissals, court hearings, external probes.

Protesters surround the SUV of a federal agent to try to prevent him from driving down Harvard Street to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Sept. 26, 2025.
US Attorney Andrew Boutros speaks at the Dirksen US Courthouse, in Chicago, on April 3.
Congressional candidate Katherine "Kat" Abughazaleh, center, and her deputy campaign manager Andre Martin, far left, leave with their attorneys from the Dirksen US Courthouse in the Loop on January 28, after a hearing on charges of conspiracy during a protest outside the Broadview ICE facility in September.
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Overview

  • Boutros personally moved on Monday to drop at least three prosecutions and announced an individualized review of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg’s grand‑jury work dating to 2007 that he estimates will cover more than 100 cases.
  • Unredacted grand‑jury minutes shown to judges contain allegations that Mecklenburg vouched for evidence, spoke with jurors outside formal sessions, and removed jurors who questioned the government’s case.
  • Federal judges have rebuked the office for heavily redacting transcripts submitted earlier, and some dismissals were entered with prejudice so the government cannot refile those charges.
  • Defense teams have asked for a special counsel and expanded discovery into contacts between the Chicago office and Justice Department officials, while former prosecutors and lawmakers have publicly criticized Boutros’ leadership.
  • The review could force more case dismissals, prompt evidentiary hearings and disciplinary or DOJ oversight actions, and it raises broader questions about grand‑jury record handling and internal controls in the Northern District of Illinois.