Posted on 10/08/2026 5:10:32 PM PDT by Red Badger
In a stunning move, a federal judge on Tuesday referred Soros-backed Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner for federal criminal investigation to determine whether he should be charged with conspiracy or obstruction of justice in his efforts to overturn a murder conviction.
U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond, a George W. Bush appointee, said testimony from the DA's staffers described conduct by Larry Krasner and his top deputy, Matthew Stiegler, as "troubling."
Larry Krasner and his attorneys are now being accused of committing crimes, such as suborning perjury, after they received a court petition to overturn a 2009 second-degree murder conviction.
Dennis Johnson was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 for the slaying of Kenyatta Smith at a Philadelphia convenience store.
Johnson was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Over the last ten years, Johnson has been fighting his conviction.
Four prosecutors in the DA's office alleged that Krasner pressured staffers to provide false information to the court to shield a supervisor from blame.
“I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” Judge Diamond wrote.
“In these circumstances, with the issuance of this Memorandum, I refer the DAO, Mr. Krasner, and Stiegler to this District’s United States Attorney’s Office for investigation and other appropriate action,” the judge said.
Krasner and Stiegler are both barred from any further participation in Johnson's ongoing bid to overturn his murder conviction.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported:
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Investigation. The word means nothing anymore. You either got the sonofabitch or you don’t. Investigation means it’ll go some time then quietly stop.
If there’s somebody here who’s knowledgeable about this:
Is Krasner trying to *keep* this guy in jail? That seems out of character for him.
You are probably right.
My first reaction to your post was to suggest that at least this will make him sweat, and think twice next time.
... but on second thought... that would be how a normal person might react. These are not normal people.
Why would Kassner go out on a limb for this case? The guy in jail doesn’t have any money.
Anyways here is a good source for info on the case: https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/superior-court/2015/2706-eda-2013.html
The following facts were adduced at Appellant’s trial. On August 27, 2007, Appellant, Curtis Smith (Curtis), and Amin Vicks were at a convenience store located at 30th Street and Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia where Ozzie Clark (Clark) was working as the sole clerk. At the time Curtis arrived, the doors to the store were locked, and business was being conducted through a window on the side of the store.
Curtis identified Appellant in court, and testified that he knew Appellant all of his life. While Curtis was at the window completing his purchase of cigars, he heard a commotion. Curtis turned to see Appellant “with a gun out[,]” and pointed at the chest of the victim, Kenyatta Smith (Kenyatta or “the victim”). Curtis also heard Appellant say to the victim, “Put everything on the steps or something like that.” He then observed Kenyatta place his personal effects, including a phone, on the steps. He also heard Appellant instruct the victim not to touch the items. When he observed what was going on, Curtis asked Appellant, “Yo, what [are] you doing, Dog?” Soon thereafter, Curtis heard gunshots. He immediately ran away, explaining that “When somebody is shooting a gun, I’m moving out of the way so I don’t get hit.”
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