Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published by Democracy Now on September 28, 2026.
In Chicago, the former lead prosecutor assigned to a high-profile case against six anti-ICE activists has resigned in protest, accusing the Trump administration of ignoring her legal advice as it pushed unwarranted felony charges. In a scathing resignation letter obtained by the Chicago Tribune, the prosecutor, Sheri Mecklenburg, accuses U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros of threatening to discipline or fire her if she attempts to defend herself against misconduct allegations. She writes, “You sent an office-wide email laying responsibility at my feet for a felony prosecution that you personally directed over my objection that the case was better suited to misdemeanor charges.” The “Broadview Six” were indicted for protesting outside an ICE jail last year during President Trump’s immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz. They faced felony charges for allegedly blocking an ICE vehicle, with a maximum sentence of six years in prison. The case was eventually thrown out by a U.S. district judge, who cited gross misconduct by prosecutors during grand jury proceedings.
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