U.S. District Judge April Perry has initiated formal discovery steps in the “Broadview Six” case, targeting the U.S. attorney’s office for potential sanctions. On Friday, she requested all written communications with individuals outside the office concerning “investigatory or charging decisions.” Perry also demanded an email sent to U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, which attached a fast-tracked transcript of grand jury proceedings.
If any communications occurred orally, Perry ordered the government to provide the names of participants, the date, time, duration of the conversation, and a certification indicating there was no recording or transcription. If such communications were later summarized in writing or if notes were taken, these documents must also be produced. Perry stated, “Testimony from witnesses may be requested at a later time, after the Court has reviewed the relevant documents.” She set a deadline of Oct. 30 for the materials to be produced.
A week ago, Perry announced her intention to initiate a “fact-finding” process. This step could lead to sanctions or appointing a special prosecutor to pursue criminal contempt charges if evidence of intentional misconduct emerges. While Perry has not determined misconduct occurred, she identified several “flawed” aspects of the prosecution at an Oct. 1 hearing and noted some misrepresentations by Boutros’ office. Perry remarked that whether the intention was to obscure illegal activity or embarrassing details is irrelevant.
“My sole focus at this point is on the lack of candor, concealment of material facts, or other misconduct that occurred before me,” Perry emphasized during her inquiry.
Responses from the U.S. attorney’s office must be “under oath, under penalty of perjury,” regardless of whether they include live testimony. Her inquiries do not pertain to grand jury conduct, as those charges have been dismissed.
Perry’s requests emphasize if the prosecutors were truthful about the absence of U.S. Justice Department communications influencing the charges. She also seeks clarity on Boutros’ claims of ignorance about the alleged misconduct before the grand jury ended in a “no bill” vote on Oct. 9, 2025. This refutation refused to return an indictment.
Retired assistant U.S. attorney Sheri Mecklenburg reported Boutros requested the transcript. Contrarily, Boutros stated in an August court filing that he was “quite certain” he never read it, even though he received it on Oct. 14. Perry’s order includes requests for the email to Boutros and any “replies or forwards” related to that message. If emails form a chain, all versions and attachments must be included, with detailed metadata such as read receipts and message logs.
This inquiry leaves Chicago’s principal federal law enforcement at risk and intensifies scrutiny following the scandal from four months prior. Boutros dismissed charges against the six protesters from the Midway Blitz operation amid accusations of prosecutorial misconduct.
Invoking a Spider-Man reference — “with great power comes great responsibility” — Perry highlighted that federal prosecutors wield significant power and must uphold truthfulness. Any deceitfully manipulating the court should face consequences. “It is clear to me that the mistakes and inaccuracies were material,” she stated, emphasizing their significant impact on the prosecution duration and financial and personal lives of the defendants.
Attorneys for the Broadview Six claim political motivations behind the indictment, tied to pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration to set an example with the protestors. Boutros, appointed by then-U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in March 2025, denied political considerations in case processing. In an August filing, prosecutors acknowledged errors, noted corrective steps taken, and found no evidence of politically driven prosecution warranting further proceedings.