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Judge Rebukes Boutros Office After Mecklenburg Resigns

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 6:14 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Mecklenburg Resigns

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg resigned in protest, accusing U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros of forcing felony charges.
Mecklenburg said she was scapegoated and forced to choose silence or premature retirement.
A federal judge admonished Boutros’s office, stating the presumption of regularity and trust was broken.
The DOJ said Mecklenburg’s claim she proposed a misdemeanor charge was false while the office filed a felony under §372.

Summary

Trump Immigration Crackdown

Operation Midway Blitz sparked the Broadview Six case amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros was appointed March 2025 and faced criticism for alleged politically motivated prosecutions.
Defense lawyers claim the indictment aimed to punish Democratic activists as a warning during President Donald Trump's immigration push.
The May 21, 2025 collapse prompted defense attorneys to demand a special counsel investigate selective prosecution.

History

Historical Context

In December 2006, President George W. Bush’s Justice Department, led by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, ordered the dismissal of seven U.S. attorneys. The firings sparked a Senate Judiciary Committee investigation that highlighted concerns about politicized prosecutions and led to legislation to protect attorney independence. Today’s allegations against U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros revive those 2006 concerns about using criminal charges to silence dissent.

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Mecklenburg Resigns

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg resigned in protest, accusing U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros of forcing felony charges.
Mecklenburg said she was scapegoated and forced to choose silence or premature retirement.
A federal judge admonished Boutros’s office, stating the presumption of regularity and trust was broken.
The DOJ said Mecklenburg’s claim she proposed a misdemeanor charge was false while the office filed a felony under §372.

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