Judge schedules Oct. 1 hearing on possible special counsel after federal misconduct revelations
U.S. District Judge April Perry set an Oct. 1 hearing to consider appointing a special counsel to probe alleged criminal contempt by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and others.
Judge April Perry announced a hearing for Oct. 1 to decide whether an independent special counsel should investigate U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and other Justice Department officials for possible criminal contempt. Perry’s order comes after she reviewed unredacted grand-jury transcripts that revealed three types of prosecutorial misconduct by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg, including improper communication with jurors and “vouching” for the case.
The misconduct was initially hidden in redacted copies previously provided to the court. The revelations have sparked a credibility crisis for Boutros, with more than 100 former federal prosecutors and numerous local Democratic leaders demanding accountability. In response, Boutros pledged sweeping reforms and a review of two decades of work by Mecklenburg. The underlying “Broadview Six” case concerns a Sept. 26, 2025 protest where six activists were charged with conspiring to impede a federal agent, though most charges have since been dropped.
