Overview
- Judge April Perry moved forward Thursday with sworn fact‑finding and ordered prosecutors to produce testimony and documents as she weighs appointing an independent special prosecutor.
- The lead prosecutor, Sheri Mecklenburg, is accused of speaking with grand jurors outside the room, vouching for her case, and excusing dissenting jurors; she denies wrongdoing, has retired, and has publicly blamed U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.
- Defense lawyers and the court say prosecutors redacted references to Mecklenburg’s conduct from grand‑jury transcripts before giving them to Perry, and Boutros has acknowledged mistakes while saying his office has adopted reforms.
- The original Broadview Six indictments from the Sept. 26, 2025 demonstration were dropped on May 21, 2026 after Perry flagged grand‑jury problems and federal charges were later dismissed, and at least ten other cases handled by implicated staff have been dropped or reviewed.
- Perry set a status timetable with a report due Nov. 2 and warned that her inquiry could lead to sanctions, criminal referrals, wider case dismissals, and further damage to the U.S. Attorney’s Office during a politically charged enforcement campaign tied to Operation Midway Blitz.