Federal Judge Refers Philly DA Larry Krasner for Criminal Investigation After Staff Testimony

Federal Referral Raises Serious Questions

U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond referred the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, District Attorney Larry Krasner, and top deputy Matthew Stiegler to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for investigation. The referral concerns the handling of a petition seeking to overturn a 2009 second-degree murder conviction. Diamond said investigators should determine whether Krasner should face charges such as conspiracy or obstruction of justice. The judge, a George W. Bush appointee, said testimony from members of Krasner’s staff revealed conduct by Krasner and Stiegler that was “troubling.” The referral places the conduct of Philadelphia’s top law enforcement official under federal review, where investigators will assess what the evidence supports.

What Staffers Told the Court

The allegations described in Diamond’s memorandum are serious. Four prosecutors in the DA’s office alleged that Krasner pressured staffers to provide false information to the court in an effort to shield a supervisor from blame. According to the memorandum, staffers were allegedly urged to lie to Diamond in court and warned of “consequences” if they did not follow Krasner’s orders. 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.” The wording matters: The allegations remain unproven, and the referral sends them to federal investigators for review.

The Murder Case at the Center

The underlying dispute involves Dennis Johnson, who was convicted in 2009 of second-degree murder in the killing of Kenyatta Smith at a Philadelphia convenience store. Johnson received a sentence of life without parole and has spent years challenging the conviction. His petition to overturn it led to hearings about how the DA’s office handled the matter. Those hearings brought testimony from staffers and placed the actions of Krasner and Stiegler under the judge’s scrutiny. A case that began with one man’s effort to revisit a murder conviction has now expanded into a federal examination of how prosecutors presented information to the court.

Krasner and Stiegler Removed From the Case

Diamond ruled that Krasner and Stiegler may no longer participate in Johnson’s ongoing effort to overturn his conviction. He also referred the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Krasner, and Stiegler to the District’s U.S. Attorney’s Office for investigation and other appropriate action. Federal investigators will review the evidence and decide whether further action is warranted, including possible charges related to conspiracy or obstruction of justice. The matter remains developing, and the investigation will determine what comes next.

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