Crimes: Judge Removes DA’s Office

Judge's hand holding a gavel over a sound block — Photo: Freedomz / Shutterstock

A federal judge said evidence about Philadelphia’s top prosecutor could amount to crimes and asked the Justice Department to investigate.

Story Snapshot

A federal judge referred District Attorney Larry Krasner and a deputy to the Department of Justice for possible crimes tied to a post-conviction case.
The judge said the evidence was close to a basic showing of perjury, false statements, obstruction, and conspiracy.
The judge removed Krasner’s office from the case after testimony raised conflict and conduct concerns.
Krasner denies wrongdoing and says he will appeal when allowed by law.

What the Judge Did and Why It Matters

United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Stiegler to the United States Department of Justice for “investigation and other appropriate action.” The move came out of hearings in Dennis Johnson’s post-conviction case. The judge also disqualified Krasner and his office from the matter. Referrals of elected prosecutors are rare, which is why this step drew fast attention across the city and beyond.

Judge Diamond said the record from the hearings showed conduct that was “tantamount to a prima facie showing” of possible crimes. He listed false statements, false declarations under oath, perjury, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy. Those are not findings of guilt. They are the judge’s view that the facts could meet the basic elements for federal review. That standard signals serious concern about truthfulness and the duty to the court.

The Case Behind the Referral: Dennis Johnson’s Bid

The referral grew out of evidentiary hearings on how the district attorney’s office handled Johnson’s post-conviction claims. Reporting describes “troubling” activity uncovered during those sessions. The court focused on whether actions inside the office crossed lines from legal advocacy into conflicts or misleading statements. This was not a policy fight. It was about how this one case was handled inside the justice system, step by step.

Earlier filings from two assistant district attorneys added heat. They said Krasner warned of “consequences” for anyone who told the court about a conflict and directed staff to “protect the office.” Those claims suggested pressure that could steer decisions away from the case’s facts. After that, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office asked to remove Krasner’s office from the matter, citing conflict concerns tied to staff testimony.

What Krasner Says and What We Still Do Not Know

Krasner rejects the court’s findings. He said he “respectfully and vigorously” disagrees and plans to appeal as soon as he can. He also noted the case is still pending, which he says limits his public response. His office has called the dissenting prosecutors’ filing “ill-informed,” saying they were not allowed to speak for the office and lacked firsthand knowledge of later talks. The office also said it took steps to address concerns in Johnson’s case.

There is no public sign yet that the Department of Justice has opened a case or brought charges. News stories summarize the judge’s memorandum, but do not include the full text or hearing transcripts. That means the exact statements or acts that map to each possible crime are not in wide view. The referral shows the court’s alarm, but the next steps belong to federal prosecutors, who may speak slowly, if at all.

Why People Across the Spectrum Care

This fight lands in a wider loss of trust in government. Many Americans think insiders protect themselves first. When a court says a top prosecutor’s office may have misled the court, it cuts at the core promise of equal justice. Conservatives point to soft-on-crime fears. Liberals point to fairness and transparency. Both sides ask if the system polices itself or shields the powerful. That shared question is why this referral resonates far beyond Philadelphia.

A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (and a top deputy) to the U.S. Attorney’s Office / DOJ for a possible criminal investigation.

U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond issued a memorandum on September 15, 2026, in a habeas case involving Dennis…

— Frostedsleet Says (@kell38707) September 16, 2026

Courts rarely push elected prosecutors off a case. They do it when conflicts or serious conduct issues appear. That is what happened here, according to the judge’s order and the record described in reports. The method is clear: isolate the case from the office in question and send any possible crimes to federal reviewers. The message is also clear: the justice system must be clean in process, not only correct in result.