In an extraordinary development in Philadelphia politics and criminal justice, a federal judge on Tuesday referred District Attorney Larry Krasner and one of his top deputies for federal criminal investigation. U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a memorandum stating that Krasner and his top supervisor, Matthew Stiegler, may have violated the law while overseeing a contentious post-conviction case. The judge’s referral to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania asks prosecutors to determine whether Krasner should face charges including conspiracy or obstruction of justice.
The case centers on Dennis Johnson, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 for the slaying of Kenyatta Smith at a Philadelphia convenience store. Johnson received a life sentence without parole and has spent the past decade fighting to overturn his conviction. The DA’s office, under Krasner, became involved in that effort, but Diamond’s memorandum describes a pattern of misconduct that he called “troubling” and “disturbing.”
Judge Cites ‘Troubling’ Testimony and Potential Illegal Acts
According to the judge’s memorandum, months of hearings into how the DA’s office handled the case produced testimony from Krasner’s own staffers that painted a damning picture. Diamond wrote that the evidence suggested Krasner and Stiegler pressured other staffers to protect Stiegler and shift blame onto a subordinate. The judge also said staffers were urged to lie to him in court and that “consequences” were threatened for those who did not follow Krasner’s orders.
“I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” Diamond wrote. “In these circumstances, with the issuance of this Memorandum, I refer the DAO, Mr. Krasner, and Stiegler to this District’s United States Attorney’s Office for investigation and other appropriate action.”
The judge’s referral specifically mentions possible charges of suborning perjury and obstruction of justice. Four prosecutors in the DA’s office had alleged that Krasner pressured staffers to provide false information to the court to shield a supervisor from blame. Diamond’s decision bars both Krasner and Stiegler from any further participation in Johnson’s ongoing bid to overturn his murder conviction.
Krasner’s Office Faces Federal Scrutiny
Larry Krasner, a Democrat first elected in 2017 with backing from liberal megadonor George Soros, has built a national profile as a progressive prosecutor. His office has been no stranger to controversy, but a federal judge formally referring him for criminal investigation represents a significant escalation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will now review the matter and decide whether to pursue charges.
Neither Krasner nor Stiegler has responded publicly to the referral. The DA’s office did not immediately comment on the judge’s memorandum. The case before Judge Diamond involves Johnson’s effort to have his 2009 conviction thrown out, a matter that has now become entangled with allegations of misconduct at the highest levels of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
The judge’s language was unusually blunt. He described actions by Krasner and Stiegler as potentially illegal and said he had no choice but to refer the matter to federal prosecutors. The memorandum does not itself bring charges, but it sets in motion a process that could lead to a federal criminal case against the city’s top law enforcement official.
The development comes as Krasner is already facing political headwinds. His tenure has been marked by clashes with police unions, Republican lawmakers, and even some within his own party. The referral could provide fresh ammunition to critics who argue that his progressive policies have undermined public safety and the integrity of the justice system. Supporters, however, have long contended that Krasner is a reformer fighting a broken system, and they may view the judge’s action as part of a broader political attack.
What Happens Next
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will now conduct its own investigation. There is no timeline for when or whether charges might be filed. In the meantime, Krasner and Stiegler are sidelined from the Johnson case, which will proceed without their involvement. The judge’s memorandum remains under seal in some respects, but its core findings were made public Tuesday, according to reporting by The Gateway Pundit.
The Johnson conviction itself dates back more than fifteen years. Kenyatta Smith was killed at a Philadelphia convenience store, and Johnson was found guilty of second-degree murder. His lengthy appeals process has now intersected with allegations that the DA’s office tried to manipulate the court to protect one of its own. Whether that intersection leads to federal charges against Krasner remains to be seen, but the judge’s referral ensures that the matter will not simply fade away.
For now, the political and legal worlds in Philadelphia are digesting a rare rebuke of a sitting district attorney by a federal judge. The referral is not a finding of guilt, but it is a formal signal that the court believes the evidence warrants a criminal investigation. That alone is likely to reverberate through the city’s legal establishment and beyond.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/stunning-move-federal-judge-refers-philly-soros-da/