* NBC 5…
Federal prosecutors have dismissed all remaining charges against remaining members of the so-called “Broadview Six.”
Prosecutors announced the dismissal after a hearing before U.S. District Judge April Perry, who had previously dismissed felony charges in the case earlier this month.
Prosecutor Andrew Boutros admitted in court Thursday that prosecutors had made “significant errors” in the grand jury process.
It is expected grand jury transcripts will be unsealed by the end of the day Thursday, shedding more light on how the federal case came to be.
* Tribune’s ace reporter…
* Sun-Times’ ace reporter…
* WTTW…
The government’s “remarkable about-face,” defense attorneys argued, comes at a time of “mounting national distrust” in the Department of Justice’s use of the grand jury process.
Citing the recent federal indictments filed against former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center, defense attorneys argued the timing of the dismissal announcement in this case at a hearing to review unredacted grand jury transcripts “is likely no coincidence.”
* Block Club Chicago…
Defense attorneys argued the case was politically motivated, pointing to the fact that five of those originally charged were local Democratic politicians or candidates speaking out against President Donald Trump’s immigration blitz.
Prosecutors denied any influence from the White House, calling the accusations “the product of fevered paranoia and delusional speculation, not to mention grossly disingenuous and thoroughly irresponsible,” one prosecutor said.
Sure, Jan.
*** UPDATE *** Holy moly…
