DOJ Cites Privilege in Refusing to Release 'Broadview Six' Communications to Federal Judge
A top Justice Department official informed a federal judge in Chicago that communications related to the 'Broadview Six' case are privileged and cannot be released for an ongoing inquiry into alleged misconduct. U.S. District Judge April Perry had mandated the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide records, including emails and written communications concerning investigatory or charging decisions, and details of oral discussions about the indictment. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, the third-highest official in the DOJ, filed a memo asserting that the requested information is protected by deliberative process and attorney work product privileges. Woodward referenced a 2005 decision by the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which stated that federal judges cannot compel prosecutors to disclose deliberative or pre-decisional materials. The DOJ did, however, provide one specific item requested by Judge Perry: an email sent to U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros on October 14, 2025, containing an...
