A federal judge has referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and a senior supervisor in his office to federal prosecutors, saying he believes the two may have broken the law.
In a memorandum issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond wrote: “I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law.”
He referred Krasner and supervisor Matthew Stiegler to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Diamond described the conduct he found as “troubling” and “disturbing.”
According to the memorandum, it included pressuring staff to protect Stiegler and shift blame onto subordinates, urging employees to lie in court, and threatening “consequences” for those who did not comply.
The findings emerged from testimony given by district attorney’s office staff during hearings.
The matter arises from the case of Dennis Johnson, convicted of second-degree murder in 2009, who is seeking to overturn that conviction through a federal post-conviction petition before Diamond.
Neither Krasner nor Stiegler has been charged with any offense.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office will decide whether to open an investigation or bring charges.
Krasner said he “respectfully and vigorously” disagreed with the findings, and looked forward to “appealing to the higher court as soon as the law allows.”
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