# Broadview Six lawyers demand probe of prosecutor misconduct

> Defense attorneys say U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros' handling of a collapsed deportation protest case warrants an independent investigation.
- Title: Broadview Six lawyers demand probe of prosecutor misconduct
- Summary: Defense attorneys say U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros' handling of a collapsed deportation protest case warrants an independent investigation. Defense attorneys…
- Keywords: broadview six, andrew boutros, april perry, sheri mecklenburg, kat abughazaleh, prosecutorial misconduct, operation midway blitz, chicago, u.s. attorney, grand jury, deportation protest, justice department
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/09/16/broadview-six-boutros-abughazaleh-perry
- Published: 2026-09-16T11:44:13.965+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: broadview six, andrew boutros, april perry, sheri mecklenburg, kat abughazaleh, prosecutorial misconduct, operation midway blitz, chicago, u.s. attorney, grand jury, deportation protest, justice department
## Defense demands special counsel probe
Lawyers for the Broadview Six say U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros' significant failings warrant an independent investigation into the collapsed case.
## Boutros sat on misconduct evidence
Boutros admitted he's had a grand jury transcript documenting prosecutor misconduct since last October. He claims he doesn't remember reading it.
## Who are the Broadview Six
Six people were charged for allegedly impeding a federal agent during a September 2025 protest against Trump's deportation campaign. Charges were later dropped.
## The defendants' political ties
Most defendants were involved in local Democratic politics, including a congressional candidate, an Oak Park trustee, and a 45th Ward committeeperson.
## Defense calls case poisoned
In a 61-page filing, defense attorneys wrote that the roots of the prosecution were poisoned from the start.

> The roots of this prosecution … were poisoned from the start
## Judge Perry holds the power
After months of back-and-forth, all eyes now turn to U.S. District Judge April Perry to decide what happens next.
## Grand jury initially rejected charges
On October 9, 2025, grand jurors rejected the case in a rebuke called a no-bill. Boutros received the transcript five days later by email.
## Questions about the transcript
Defense attorneys question why the transcript was ordered, who ordered it, who sent it to Boutros, and why he didn't review it.

> Did Mr. Boutros specifically request the grand jury transcript?
## The September protest incident
Prosecutors alleged a crowd pushed and damaged a federal agent's SUV during a Midway Blitz protest. Only six people from the crowd were charged.
## Case collapsed on eve of trial
In late May, defense attorneys convinced Perry to review unredacted grand jury transcripts. The feds had previously given her redacted versions.
## Three types of misconduct found
Perry found prosecutor Sheri Mecklenburg spoke with grand jurors outside the room, excused jurors who disagreed, and vouched for the case personally.
## What vouching means
Vouching is when prosecutors put their personal credibility on the line. Mecklenburg told grand jurors, "I don't charge people unless I'm absolutely sure."

> I don't charge people unless I'm absolutely sure.
## Perry's trust was broken
Judge Perry said she was incredibly shocked by the misconduct and concluded her trust in federal prosecutors had been broken.
## Boutros admits mistakes
Boutros acknowledged mistakes were made and said he's put reforms in place. He noted his office didn't explicitly violate any court order.

> The office has not taken lightly this court's statement about losing trust.
## A wider credibility crisis
Multiple judges questioned their ability to trust federal prosecutors this summer. Some threatened to hold hearings over the misconduct.
## Key takeaway

Defense attorneys are demanding a special counsel investigate U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros after he admitted possessing evidence of prosecutorial misconduct for months before disclosing it.