Broadview protest charges dropped amid grand jury misconduct findings

Federal prosecutors dropped all remaining charges against four Broadview Six protesters indicted in October for demonstrating outside a Chicago-area immigration detention center, after revelations of redacted grand jury transcripts that Judge April Perry called improper. The case, tied to Operation Midway Blitz, had seen conspiracy charges dropped earlier and the four now faced only misdemeanor counts of impeding a federal officer, which were dismissed with prejudice. The decision marks a setback for the government and underscores First Amendment protections for protest; sanctions discussions for the U.S. attorney’s office were also raised by the judge.