The U.S. Department of Justice has sent grand jury subpoenas to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office, according to two sources briefed on the matter.
The sources said the subpoenas relate to potential obstruction of justice tied to the handling of cases before federal judges, and that they followed a federal judge’s referral of Krasner and his top deputy for possible criminal investigation.
Krasner’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the DOJ declined to comment.
The development comes more than a month after U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond referred Krasner and his deputy, Matthew Stiegler, to the DOJ. Diamond said evidence uncovered during review of a murder conviction case could amount to false statements, perjury, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. Neither man has been charged.
Diamond also removed Krasner and Stiegler from the case, though he declined to disqualify the entire DA’s office. The judge alleged that Krasner and Stiegler pressured prosecutors to present 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 underlying dispute traces back to the case of Dennis Johnson, who was convicted in 2009 of killing Kenyatta Smith. The DA’s office argued in a 2022 filing that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief due to ineffective assistance of counsel, according to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors later raised potential conflicts involving Stiegler and recommended the matter be referred instead to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. According to the judge’s opinion, Krasner opposed that move, repeatedly saying someone from his office needed to remain involved to “protect the office.”
Krasner has pushed back on Diamond’s findings. “I respectfully and vigorously disagree with the court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law,” he 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.”
This is a developing story.
