In a highly unusual move, a federal judge in Philadelphia has asked federal prosecutors to examine whether the city’s top law enforcement official and a senior deputy may have broken the law while handling a murder conviction challenge.
U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond Jr. issued a memorandum on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, referring District Attorney Larry Krasner and his deputy, Matthew Stiegler, to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The judge said he had “reluctantly concluded” that the two might have committed crimes, including obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
The referral stems from the post-conviction case of Dennis Johnson, who is seeking to overturn his second-degree murder conviction. Krasner’s office has backed Johnson’s exoneration effort, but the judge’s memo suggests the office’s conduct in pursuing that goal may itself be unlawful.
Allegations of a False Narrative
According to the memorandum, Krasner and Stiegler allegedly tried to persuade four prosecutors to support what the judge described as a false narrative. Diamond characterized that alleged persuasion as a possible criminal conspiracy.
The judge also barred Krasner and Stiegler from taking any further part in the Johnson case. The referral to federal authorities marks an extraordinary turn in a controversy that has been building for months over the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and its Conviction Integrity Unit.
The unit, which Krasner created to review questionable convictions, has come under fire from the Pennsylvania attorney general, state judges, and federal judges. Critics say the office has moved to overturn murder convictions without conducting proper reviews.
Over the summer, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the attorney general to review certain cases in which Krasner’s office is seeking to overturn convictions. That order added to the scrutiny already facing the office.
Krasner’s Response and Plans to Appeal
Krasner, a former civil rights attorney known for suing police, became district attorney in 2018 and won re-election for a second time last year. He has consistently defended his office’s handling of post-conviction cases.
In a statement, Krasner said he “respectfully and vigorously” disagrees with the court’s findings and conclusions. He added that he looks forward to appealing the decision. Krasner also noted that the pending matter limits what he can say to the media.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment through a spokesperson.
Prosecutors assigned to the Johnson case had previously said its handling was poor and that Krasner ordered them to protect the office. Those claims now form part of the backdrop to the judge’s referral.
The case has drawn attention from NBC News reporter Tom Winter and contributor Deanna Durante, among others.
For now, the referral places Krasner and Stiegler under a cloud of potential federal investigation while the Johnson case continues without them. The appeal Krasner plans could determine whether the judge’s findings stand or are overturned.
