Raw Record Source

{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreibuqv7ypnlx2ksnnu3tyw5t7sokze3zocgy6uz2hrkomqvhzackse",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ha7wpngv4f2qwrk5hta4ktbb/app.bsky.feed.post/3moimralnhg62"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreigx7bz4lfeiacmxk3d2vkv4l42qj2c2yxlhtrckstqxswonk75v7e"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 292050
  },
  "path": "/immigration/2026/06/17/broadview-6-want-special-counsel-to-probe-boutros-office-trumps-justice-department-for-criminal-contempt",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-17T13:27:59.080Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>Members of the “Broadview Six”<b> </b>are asking a federal judge to take the extraordinary step of appointing an independent special counsel to investigate — and possibly prosecute — Justice Department officials in Chicago and Washington D.C. for criminal contempt.</p><p>The request comes<b> </b>nearly a month after the tainted case against the six Operation Midway Blitz protesters <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/21/broadview-ice-protest-grand-jury-transcript-kat-abughazaleh-trump\" target=\"_blank\" >collapsed<b> </b>amid revelations </a>of apparent<b> </b>misconduct<b> </b>before a grand jury by prosecutors from<b> </b>the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.</p><p>Lawyers for five of the cleared former defendants now say an investigation should be initiated because<b> </b>Botrous’ office appears to be laying blame<b> </b>at the feet of a single prosecutor. The defense attorneys say the misconduct “runs much deeper,”<b> </b>and<b> </b>likely<b> </b>into the upper echelon of President Donald Trump's Justice Department.</p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/06/17/raskin-house-congress-boutros-trump-broadview-six\" >‘Broadview 6' fallout expands to Washington, as Raskin calls for probe of Chicago’s top federal prosecutor</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>That’s why they say the special counsel should be appointed “from outside the Department of Justice.”</p><p>“The court has the authority, and we think the obligation, to ensure that those responsible for this unique and sorry chapter — a chapter which has dramatically impacted the lives of multiple defendants and enduringly sullied the reputation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office earned over decades — are held to account,” the defense attorneys wrote in a 27-page filing late Tuesday.</p><p>They made their request to U.S. District Judge April<b> </b>Perry, who once served as<b> </b>a federal prosecutor in Chicago and even handled<b> </b>a significant criminal contempt case<b> </b>herself. She <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/20/broadview-ice-protest-april-perry-kat-abughazaleh-trump\" target=\"_blank\" >discovered the alleged improprieties</a> after defense attorneys urged her to review unredacted<b> </b>transcripts of the grand jury proceedings in the “Broadview Six” case.</p><p>She has said what she found left her “incredibly shocked,”<b> </b>and she’s previously acknowledged the possibility of “parallel proceedings with some other investigative body.”</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-f80000\" name=\"image-f80000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8390ac3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1753x984+102+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fce%2F1a5fd1074fcd8e46c6194bb50aab%2Fperry.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/39bbf0e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1753x984+102+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fce%2F1a5fd1074fcd8e46c6194bb50aab%2Fperry.jpg 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/397dd88/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1753x984+102+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fce%2F1a5fd1074fcd8e46c6194bb50aab%2Fperry.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"April Perry speaks to the Senate Judiciary Committee July 31, 2024.\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/397dd88/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1753x984+102+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fce%2F1a5fd1074fcd8e46c6194bb50aab%2Fperry.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eeda006/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1753x984+102+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fce%2F1a5fd1074fcd8e46c6194bb50aab%2Fperry.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/397dd88/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1753x984+102+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fce%2F1a5fd1074fcd8e46c6194bb50aab%2Fperry.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>April Perry speaks to the Senate Judiciary Committee in July 2024.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Sen. Dick Durbin/YouTube</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The misconduct alleged includes a prosecutor improperly<b> </b>putting her personal credibility on the line to support criminal charges, having conversations with grand jurors outside the grand jury room, and excusing grand jurors who disagreed with the feds’ case.</p><p>One grand juror called the case a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/06/09/broadview-six-grand-jury-midway-blitz-boutros-trump\" target=\"_blank\" >“crock of sh--,”</a> transcripts show.</p><p>Perry<b> </b>said<b> </b>the alleged misconduct<b> </b>had also been redacted out of transcripts<b> </b>initially<b> </b>given<b> </b>to her by Boutros’ office.</p><p>A Boutros spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the request for a special counsel.</p><p>The “Broadview Six” case revolved around a September protest outside a suburban immigration facility, where a crowd pushed and allegedly damaged a federal agent’s SUV. From that crowd, prosecutors charged only six people, largely involved in local Democratic politics, raising questions about <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/03/13/chicago-trump-abughazaleh-justice-department-broadview-midway-blitz-ice\" target=\"_blank\" >selective prosecution</a> and <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/03/16/chicago-broadview-six-kat-abughazaleh-midway-blitz-trump-ice\" target=\"_blank\" >freedom of expression</a>.</p><p><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/06/01/broadview-six-midway-blitz-abughazaleh-straw-rabbit-perry-trump-ice-crime\" target=\"_blank\" >Charged were</a> former congressional candidate Kat<b> </b>Abughazaleh, Oak Park village trustee Brian<b> </b>Straw, former Cook County Board candidate Catherine<b> </b>“Cat”<b> </b>Sharp, 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael<b> </b>Rabbitt, musician<b> </b>Joselyn<b> </b>Walsh<b> </b>and<b> </b>onetime<b> </b>Abughazaleh<b> </b>campaign<b> </b>worker<b> </b>Andre<b> </b>Martin.</p><p>Boutros permanently dropped the case May 21, telling Perry he didn’t know about much of the alleged misconduct until late April.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-6e0000\" name=\"image-6e0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9e8cf6a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F54%2F6340708640ad8fe81d57d95edf4c%2Fboutros-043025-21.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6376371/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F54%2F6340708640ad8fe81d57d95edf4c%2Fboutros-043025-21.jpg 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a2b43f6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F54%2F6340708640ad8fe81d57d95edf4c%2Fboutros-043025-21.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Andrew Boutros, the new U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, speaks to reporters during an interview at the Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in the Loop, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a2b43f6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F54%2F6340708640ad8fe81d57d95edf4c%2Fboutros-043025-21.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/861b95f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F54%2F6340708640ad8fe81d57d95edf4c%2Fboutros-043025-21.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a2b43f6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F54%2F6340708640ad8fe81d57d95edf4c%2Fboutros-043025-21.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros speaks to reporters during an interview at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in April 2025.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Since then, defense attorneys have sought records that could tie Acting Attorney General Todd<b> </b>Blanche<b> </b>or<b> </b>Associate<b> </b>Deputy<b> </b>Attorney<b> </b>General<b> </b><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/06/08/aakash-singh-justice-department-blanche-boutros-trump-broadview-chicago\" target=\"_blank\" >Aakash<b> </b>Singh</a><b> </b>to the “Broadview Six” case. The<b> </b>morning<b> </b>after<b> </b>they<b> </b>filed<b> </b>a motion<b> </b>seeking such records, federal<b> </b>prosecutors<b> </b>said in an email they wouldn’t dispute whether the former “Broadview Six” defendants are<b> </b>entitled<b> </b>to having their attorneys’ fees paid.</p><p>“A cynical observer might suggest the government’s agreement to pay defendants’ legal fees was made largely to avoid having to produce the requested [records] (which appears to have struck a nerve) and a full accounting of its conduct,” defense attorneys wrote Tuesday.</p><p>The group also said Perry<b> </b>should hold an evidentiary hearing about the alleged prosecutorial misconduct, noting that the hearing could “inform any potential sanctions.”</p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/06/09/broadview-six-grand-jury-midway-blitz-boutros-trump\" >Transcripts reveal tension, improprieties during ‘Broadview 6’ grand jury hearings</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>They said courts have a “longstanding”<b> </b>power<b> </b>to<b> </b>initiate<b> </b>criminal<b> </b>contempt<b> </b>investigations, which they called “essential to securing the authority, dignity, independence, and self-preservation of the courts and the judicial branch.”</p><p>Christopher<b> </b>Parente, Straw’s attorney, said the late Tuesday filings were “about protecting our collective Constitutional rights, ensuring we understand the full scope and nature of the corruption within the Department of Justice at this time, and sending a signal to U.S. attorney’s offices across the country that there will be consequences when they engage in corrupt actions.”</p><p>Briefing on the request from defense attorneys<b> </b>is expected to last into late July, meaning it could be several weeks before Perry hands down her ruling. The<b> </b>judge<b> </b>served<b> </b>as a federal prosecutor<b> </b>in Chicago from<b> </b>2004<b> </b>until<b> </b>2016, helping<b> </b>to<b> </b>secure<b> </b>the<b> </b>criminal<b> </b>contempt<b> </b>conviction<b> </b>of fraudster <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2020/1/26/21080672/kevin-trudeau-prison-fraud\" target=\"_blank\" >Kevin<b> </b>Trudeau</a><b> </b>in<b> </b>2013.</p><p>President<b> </b>Joe<b> </b>Biden<b> </b>once<b> </b>nominated<b> </b>Perry<b> </b>to serve as Chicago’s U.S. attorney, but her confirmation for the job was <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2024/03/10/april-perry-us-attorney-john-lausch-jd-vance-confirmation-senate\" target=\"_blank\" >blocked<b> </b>by<b> </b>then-Sen. JD Vance</a>, who is now the vice president.</p>",
  "title": "'Broadview 6' want special counsel to probe Boutros' office, Trump's Justice Department for criminal contempt",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-17T13:28:09.405Z"
}