Charges dropped against activists in Chicago immigration crackdown amid grand jury misconduct claims
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Chicago’s top federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, dismissed charges against four activists protesting during last year’s immigration crackdown after allegations of grand jury misconduct emerged, including improper prosecutor contact with a juror and exclusion of dissenting jurors.
- The dismissed case involved activists accused of impeding federal officers during protests outside a federal building in Broadview, Illinois, central to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts; charges were dropped with prejudice, barring refiling.
- Defense attorneys criticized the prosecution, calling the case misguided and an infringement on First Amendment rights, while prosecutors acknowledged the misconduct but denied intent to mislead the court.
- The judge closed part of the hearing due to the sensitive nature of grand jury proceedings and suggested a possible separate hearing to consider sanctions against the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
- This case adds to a pattern of scrutiny faced by the Justice Department during the Trump administration over grand jury and prosecutorial conduct, including a notable incident involving the indictment process against former FBI Director James Comey.