Federal Judge Refers Philadelphia DA Krasner for Potential Prosecution
Judge Paul Diamond referred Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner and deputy for potential criminal investigation.
Why it matters: This episode spotlights prosecutorial ethics and accountability issues key to criminal justice policy and legal operations monitoring.
- On Sept. 15, 2026, Judge Paul Diamond referred DA Larry Krasner and ADA Matthew Stiegler to DOJ for potential criminal investigation.
- Krasner and Stiegler were disqualified from the Dennis Johnson case over allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice.
- Court documents claim Krasner pressured staff to give false testimony and threatened consequences for non-compliance.
- Krasner disagrees with findings and plans to appeal; DOJ has not commented on potential investigation.
On September 15, 2026, U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond issued a 40-page memorandum referring Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Stiegler to the U.S. Department of Justice for a potential criminal prosecution. The referral stems from their conduct in the case of Dennis Johnson, convicted in 2009 for the murder of Kenyatta Smith.
Judge Diamond disqualified both Krasner and Stiegler from handling the Johnson case, citing evidence suggesting possible perjury and obstruction of justice. The court documents allege that Krasner and Stiegler pressured their staff to provide false testimony and threatened negative consequences for staff members who refused to comply.
Despite internal recommendations to transfer the case to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office due to conflicts of interest, Krasner insisted on maintaining control over the case to "protect the office." Krasner issued a statement saying he "respectfully and vigorously disagree[s] with the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law" and intends to appeal as soon as legally possible.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not publicly responded to the referral, and it remains unclear whether they will pursue a formal investigation. This rare referral of a sitting district attorney underscores continuing tensions related to prosecutorial ethics and legal accountability within the criminal justice system, especially around efforts to overturn convictions.
By the numbers:
- 40 pages — length of Judge Diamond's referral memorandum
- 2009 — year Dennis Johnson was convicted for murder
- September 15, 2026 — date of referral by Judge Diamond
Yes, but: Krasner disputes the judge’s findings and plans to appeal, which could delay or alter the investigation outcome.
What's next: Pending is whether the DOJ will open a formal criminal investigation into Krasner and Stiegler’s conduct based on the referral.