DOJ Sends Grand Jury Subpoenas to Philadelphia DA Krasner After Judge’s Referral

The Justice Department sent grand jury subpoenas to the office of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner in recent days, according to two sources briefed on the matter. The subpoenas relate to potential obstruction of justice connected to the handling of cases before federal judges and followed a referral by U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond.

Judge Diamond, a George W. Bush appointee, had referred Krasner and Conviction Integrity Unit Chief Matthew Stiegler to the DOJ more than a month earlier. In a September memorandum, Diamond wrote that he had “reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” citing evidence that could support charges including false statements, perjury, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy. The judge disqualified Krasner and Stiegler from a specific case but did not disqualify the entire district attorney’s office. Neither man has been charged.

The underlying matter involves Dennis Johnson, convicted in 2009 of second-degree murder in the 2007 killing of Kenyatta Smith. Krasner’s office filed a petition in 2022 seeking habeas relief based on claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. Prosecutors later raised potential conflicts involving Stiegler and recommended referral to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. According to the judge’s opinion, Krasner opposed that step, insisted someone from his office remain involved to “protect the office,” and warned of consequences if staff alerted the court to an internal conflict. Diamond also noted that Krasner had described the state attorney general’s office as staffed with “Nazis.”

Krasner’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the subpoenas. The Justice Department declined to comment. Krasner previously said he vigorously disagreed with the court’s findings and looked forward to appealing when the law allowed.

The development adds a federal grand-jury phase to scrutiny of a progressive prosecutor whose policies have drawn long-standing criticism from law-enforcement groups and victims’ advocates.