U.S. District Judge April Perry has taken a significant step in the ongoing ‘Broadview Six’ case. On Friday, she made formal discovery requests to the U.S. attorney’s office. Perry is demanding any written communications with external parties related to ‘investigatory or charging decisions.’ Additionally, she wants an email sent to U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros that attached an expedited transcript of grand jury proceedings.
If such communications were oral, not written, Perry’s order requires the government to provide the identities of those present, the date, time and length of the conversation, and confirmation that no recording or transcription was made. “If the communication was later summarized in writing or notes were taken, they should be produced,” Perry wrote, noting that witness testimony might be requested after reviewing the relevant documents. All materials are due by October 30.
This request follows a statement from Perry indicating her intention to conduct a “fact-finding” process. She aims to determine whether the U.S. attorney’s office intentionally misled her in the ‘Broadview Six’ case. The rare move could lead to sanctions or the appointment of a special prosecutor to bring criminal contempt charges. Although no formal finding of misconduct has been made, Perry suggested that there were flawed aspects of the prosecution and inaccurate representations to the court from Boutros’ office.
Perry emphasized last week that any response from the U.S. attorney’s office would be “under oath, under penalty of perjury.” Her inquiry does not focus on grand jury misconduct, as the charges are already dismissed. “My sole focus at this point is on the lack of candor, concealment of material facts, or other misconduct that occurred before me,” Perry stated.
The requests aim to clarify whether prosecutors were honest about having no external communications that influenced the case’s charging decisions. Perry also seeks to verify Boutros’ court assertion that he was unaware of grand jury misconduct from the October 9, 2025 session, where a “no bill” vote was cast, rejecting an indictment. Although Sheri Mecklenburg, the now-retired assistant U.S. attorney, claimed Boutros requested the transcript, Boutros, in an August filing, stated he was “quite certain” he never read it. Perry has ordered the production of Boutros’ email and any associated correspondence.
The investigation represents uncharted territory for the federal law enforcement office in Chicago, further complicating a scandal that erupted when Boutros dismissed all charges against the six Operation Midway Blitz protesters amid misconduct allegations. Perry highlighted the prosecutors’ responsibility to be truthful, quoting “with great power comes great responsibility” and emphasizing the gravity of any willful deception of the court.
Perry remarked, “It is clear to me that the mistakes and inaccuracies were material.” She noted that these errors impacted the case’s trajectory and significantly affected the defendants, both financially and personally.
Defense attorneys for the Broadview Six believe the indictment decision was politically motivated amid pressures from President Donald Trump’s administration. They assert that it aimed to make an example of the demonstrators, who allegedly obstructed an ICE agent during a protest. Boutros, appointed in March 2025 by then-U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, has denied political motivations in prosecution. Prosecutors, acknowledging past errors, claim corrective steps have been taken and no evidence of vindictive prosecution exists to justify further hearings or sanctions.
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