DOJ Prosecutor Retires Under Protest Over Failed Broadview 6 Case
Sheri Mecklenburg, a Department of Justice prosecutor, said she is retiring under protest to preserve health benefits after the collapse of the Broadview Six case.[1]
She blamed U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, accusing him of personally directing the prosecution and blocking her response to allegations of grand jury misconduct.[1]
Felony counts against six protesters were dismissed, and days before a rare federal misdemeanor trial the remaining charges were dropped with prejudice after a closed-door hearing into alleged grand jury misconduct.[1] In court, Boutros cited upsetting misconduct, announced sweeping grand jury reforms, and said he would review more than 1,000 grand jury matters, including Mecklenburg's work.[1]
Mecklenburg had been the lead prosecutor in the Broadview Six case, which charged six protesters at the Broadview ICE facility with conspiracy felonies and obstruction misdemeanors tied to 2025's Operation Midway Blitz.[1] Her resignation letter says Boutros directed the felony prosecution over her objections, kept her from responding to misconduct allegations, and threatened to fire her if she tried to address the court.[1]
Mecklenburg said she is retiring under protest to protect decades of government-earned health benefits.[1] Her departure intensifies scrutiny of how the office handled the Broadview prosecution and how the Boutros-led review will affect other grand jury cases.
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📌 Key Facts
- Sheri Mecklenburg resigned from DOJ this week and said she is retiring under protest to preserve health benefits earned over decades of government service.
- Mecklenburg was lead prosecutor in the Broadview Six case, which charged six protesters at the Broadview ICE facility with conspiracy felonies and obstruction misdemeanors tied to 2025’s Operation Midway Blitz.
- Felony counts were dismissed, and days before a rare federal misdemeanor trial the remaining charges were dismissed with prejudice after a closed-door hearing on alleged grand jury misconduct.
- In court, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros cited upsetting misconduct and said it justified dismissal, then announced “sweeping” grand jury reforms and a review of more than 1,000 grand jury cases he said included Mecklenburg’s work.
- In her resignation letter, Mecklenburg accuses Boutros of personally directing the felony prosecution over her objections, keeping her from responding to misconduct allegations, and threatening to fire her if she tried to address the court.
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