PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For a second time, a federal judge is referring Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner for a criminal investigation after questionable conduct was alleged by attorneys within the DA’s Office.
Judge Paul Diamond’s reiteration for an investigation into Krasner comes after the filing of several documents and a number of evidentiary hearings tied to a murder conviction appeal.
Diamond said he would not recuse himself from overseeing the murder conviction appeal and reiterated that DA Larry Krasner should be criminally investigated, writing in a new opinion “that the District Attorney chose not to testify but sought to ‘make his case’ with an unsworn declaration — the credibility of which I am unable to assess — makes that investigation even more necessary.”
After the judge ruled against Krasner last month, the DA filed a number of motions and a declaration criticizing the judge and how he “interpreted testimony” given under oath by both current and former assistant DAs.
The judge said Krasner’s filing seemed “intended to persuade the media, not the Court.”
The recent court saga stems from a flawed court document siding with a convicted murderer in his attempt at an appeal.
In the fallout, several attorneys resigned after they said they believed they were being threatened or blamed for the controversy.
The judge also wrote that “there are few attorney transgressions more serious than lying to the Court.”
