U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond on Tuesday referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, supervisor Matthew Stiegler, and the District Attorney’s Office to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for investigation and other appropriate action, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
In a memorandum, Diamond wrote that he believed Krasner and Stiegler may have violated the law, mentioning possible crimes including perjury, conspiracy, or obstruction of justice. Those statements are Diamond’s assessment in the memorandum — not proven charges or findings of guilt. A referral is not a charge; the U.S. Attorney’s Office decides whether to investigate or file charges.
The matter arises from Dennis Johnson’s challenge to his 2009 second-degree murder conviction. Diamond also ruled that Krasner and Stiegler can no longer participate in Johnson’s case, according to the Inquirer.
Testimony during the hearings raised allegations of pressure to protect Stiegler, shift blame, provide false information to the court, and threats of “consequences.” Diamond described the testimony as troubling and disturbing and as evidence of possible criminal wrongdoing — characterizations and allegations attributed to the memorandum and hearing record, not proven facts.
Krasner had not provided an immediate comment Tuesday, and a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office also had no immediate comment, the Inquirer reported.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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