The Justice Department sent grand jury subpoenas to Democratic Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office in recent days, Fox News has learned.
Two sources briefed on the subpoenas say they are related to potential obstruction of justice relating to the handling of cases before federal judges. The sources said the subpoenas came as a result of a federal judge referring Krasner and his top deputy to the DOJ for possible criminal investigation.
Krasner’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The DOJ declined to comment.
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Reports of the subpoenas come more than a month after U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond referred Krasner and his deputy, Matthew Stiegler, to the DOJ, saying evidence uncovered in a murder conviction case could constitute false statements, perjury, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
Neither man has been charged.
Diamond also disqualified Krasner and Stiegler from the case but declined to disqualify the entire DA’s office.
The judge alleged that Krasner and Stiegler sought to pressure prosecutors into presenting a false narrative to the court and that Krasner warned of “consequences” if staff alerted the court to an internal conflict.
“I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” Diamond wrote.
The dispute stems from the case of Dennis Johnson, who was convicted in 2009 of killing Kenyatta Smith.
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The DA’s office said in a 2022 filing that Johnson was entitled to habeas corpus relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel, according to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors later raised potential conflicts involving Stiegler and urged that the matter be referred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
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According to the opinion, Krasner opposed that move and repeatedly said someone from his office needed to remain involved to “protect the office.”
“I respectfully and vigorously disagree with the court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law,” Krasner said in a statement at the time. “I look forward to appealing to the higher court as soon as the law allows. This remains a pending matter, which limits for now my and my office’s ability to respond in the media.”
