More than 1,000 cases under review after Broadview Six misconduct revelations

More than 1,000 grand jury presentations are being scrutinized in the Northern District of Illinois after prosecutorial misconduct was revealed in the "Broadview Six" case, leading to dismissed charges. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announced the extensive review, which will retroactively examine cases dating back nearly 20 years, including those handled by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg.

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When this is all said and done, I will tell you that well over 1,000 grand jury presentations will be reviewed in the Northern District of Illinois.

The "Broadview Six" case involved protesters arrested outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois. Charges were dismissed after a judge unsealed grand jury transcripts, exposing inappropriate conduct by prosecutors, including "vouching" for evidence, dismissing dissenting jurors, and improper contact with a juror. Mecklenburg, who was at the center of the scandal, has since been fired from her position working for Sen. Dick Durbin.

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They will both be retroactive, looking at what happened in some cases going all the way back almost 20 years. It will cover everything that is happening now that's pending in court.

Boutros has implemented a remediation plan that includes new reforms to clarify when prosecutors must turn over grand jury material. The comprehensive review of prior cases, including those handled by Mecklenburg and other prosecutors, is now underway to restore confidence in the integrity of the grand jury system. The goal is to ensure that pending cases are not compromised by similar issues.

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It's going to be a massive review, a comprehensive review, and it is underway.