Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin fires Sheri Mecklenberg as Senate Judiciary Committee counsel after Broadview Six allegations
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Illinois Senator Dick Durbin has fired Sheri Mecklenberg from her role as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in the Broadview Six case.
- U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros dismissed all charges against the defendants after Judge April Perry found improper handling of grand jury proceedings, including prosecutorial vouching and exclusion of dissenting jurors.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skiba attributed the misconduct to Mecklenberg, a senior prosecutor involved in the case, acknowledging that her actions went beyond personal style to arguably misconduct.
- Durbin's office stated they were unaware of the misconduct until recent reports and confirmed Mecklenberg’s detail from the Department of Justice has been terminated due to the seriousness of the allegations.
- Attorneys for the Broadview Six plan to seek sanctions and a hearing on potential vindictive prosecution, as well as file a claim with the Justice Department's anti-weaponization fund for financial relief.