'Broadview Six' case dropped after closed-door hearing, just days before trial

Source: NPR

'Broadview Six' case dropped after closed-door hearing, just days before trial

Chicago Sun-Times By Jon Seidel
Published May 21, 2026 at 2:35 PM CDT


Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
The remaining four members of the so-called "Broadview Six": Brian Straw (from left), Michael Rabbitt, Kat Abughazaleh and Andre Martin.

Chicago's top federal prosecutor announced Thursday he was dropping charges against the remaining members of the "Broadview Six" in a stunning hearing that revealed apparent misconduct before a grand jury by his assistants -- but which he insisted he knew nothing about until recently.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros told U.S. District Judge April Perry he was "completely unaware" of the misconduct until late last month, when prosecutors dropped the felony conspiracy indictment against the four remaining defendants in the case. Boutros also told Perry that "no one acted with the intent to mislead your honor."

Then, despite dropping the case with prejudice -- meaning it can't be re-filed -- Boutros went on to defend what is now the most controversial prosecution of his 14-month tenure.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.nprillinois.org/chicago-il/2026-05-21/broadview-six-case-dropped-after-closed-door-hearing-just-days-before-trial

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Earlier this morning:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143668085
Judge calls for closed-door hearing days before 'Broadview 6' trial set to begin

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Popehat Likes The Triangles
‪@kenwhite.bsky.social‬

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I'm proud of the work I did as an AUSA, and I say this with complete sincerity: if you're an AUSA, and a decent person, who cares about your oath, get out. Get out now without destroying your reputation. A DoJ run to Trumpist specifications is corrupt and incompetent. The stink will stick on you.

‪Chicago Connected‬
‪@chicagoconnected.bsky.social‬
· 4h
'Broadview Six' trial is off for now, following closed-door hearing about grand jury transcripts

'Broadview Six' trial is off for now, following closed-door hearing about grand jury transcripts
The case is one of the most highly publicized prosecutions to result from last fall's Operation Midway Blitz deportation campaign. That's because it began as a conspiracy case against six people who...
chicago.suntimes.com
1:22 PM · May 21, 2026
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I’m proud of the work I did as an AUSA, and I say this with complete sincerity: if you’re an AUSA, and a decent person, who cares about your oath, get out. Get out now without destroying your reputation. A DoJ run to Trumpist specifications is corrupt and incompetent. The stink will stick on you.

— Popehat Likes The Triangles (@kenwhite.bsky.social) 2026-05-21T17:22:34.707Z

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Chicago Connected
‪@chicagoconnected.bsky.social‬

Follow
'Broadview Six' trial is off for now, following closed-door hearing about grand jury transcripts

'Broadview Six' trial is off for now, following closed-door hearing about grand jury transcripts
The case is one of the most highly publicized prosecutions to result from last fall's Operation Midway Blitz deportation campaign. That's because it began as a conspiracy case against six people who...
chicago.suntimes.com
1:16 PM · May 21, 2026
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'Broadview Six' trial is off for now, following closed-door hearing about grand jury transcripts

— Chicago Connected (@chicagoconnected.bsky.social) 2026-05-21T17:16:00.740Z

Reposted by Popehat Likes The Triangles
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

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Josh Marshall
‪@joshtpm.bsky.social‬

So if I’m understanding it the outlines of the prosecutorial misconduct in the Broadview Six case is this. They tried three times to get an indictment. After they failed the second time they simply booted the grand jurors who didn’t think the conduct was a crime. Then they told the remaining …
5:03 PM · May 21, 2026
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So if I’m understanding it the outlines of the prosecutorial misconduct in the Broadview Six case is this. They tried three times to get an indictment. After they failed the second time they simply booted the grand jurors who didn’t think the conduct was a crime. Then they told the remaining …

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm.bsky.social) 2026-05-21T21:03:00.603Z