A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and top deputy Matthew Stiegler to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday for possible criminal investigation.
U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond said evidence uncovered in a murder conviction case could constitute false statements, perjury, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
Neither man has been charged.
Diamond also disqualified Krasner and Stiegler from the case but declined to disqualify the entire DA's office.
The judge alleged Krasner and Stiegler sought to pressure prosecutors into presenting a false narrative to the court and that Krasner warned of "consequences" if staff alerted the court to an internal conflict.
"I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law," Diamond wrote.
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The dispute stems from the case of Dennis Johnson, who was convicted in 2009 of killing Kenyatta Smith.
The DA’s office said in a 2022 filing that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel, according to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors later raised potential conflicts involving Stiegler and urged that the matter be referred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
According to the opinion, Krasner opposed that move and repeatedly said someone from his office needed to remain involved to "protect the office."
"I respectfully and vigorously disagree with the court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law," Krasner said in a statement. "I look forward to appealing to the higher court as soon as the law allows. This remains a pending matter, which limits for now my and my office’s ability to respond in the media."
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The DOJ did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News' Jennifer Johnson contributed to this story.
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