Biden judge rejects DOJ bid to halt probe of prosecutors in botched ICE protest case

A federal judge has cancelled a Justice Department hearing request while continuing an inquiry into whether prosecutors misled her court in the case against six anti-ICE protesters. Judge April Perry says the department’s doubts about her authority to question lawyers do not affect her investigation, which could lead to sanctions or criminal contempt proceedings.

Perry has ordered Chicago US Attorney Andrew Boutros and three assistant US attorneys to testify under oath on Monday. She wants to examine what prosecutors knew about possible grand jury misconduct, the accuracy of their statements, redactions to grand jury transcripts and whether outside officials received information. The criminal case was dropped in May, but the judge’s inquiry continues; she has also criticised the department’s handling of withheld communications and requested metadata for an email sent to Boutros.