Calls grow for U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign

The big picture: Newly released transcripts from the "Broadview Six" grand jury proceedings reveal one juror sharply questioned the government's case, telling prosecutors: "I heard this case like last week and I thought it was a crock of shit then and I still think it is."

Why it matters: Questions about Boutros' leadership, including from former assistant U.S. attorneys who served in the district, threaten to tarnish the reputation of an office that has taken on major corruption cases, including the convictions of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and state House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Catch up quick: Six protesters at the immigration facility in suburban Broadview were indicted in October for felony conspiracy and misdemeanor assault, including then congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh.

• Two of the defendants' charges were dismissed in March, but the case against the other four continued until last month, when U.S. District Judge April Perry granted the Justice Department's request to dismiss all the charges with prejudice.
• "I have never seen the types of prosecutorial behavior before a grand jury that I saw in those transcripts," Perry said at the time.
• The transcripts also revealed that Boutros appeared before the same grand jury to remind members of the critical "constitutional" role jurors play, according to a report that he himself released.

Between the lines: It's not just that Boutros appeared, but what he said to the jury that has raised flags.

• "The inappropriate conduct revealed in the grand jury transcripts, coupled with Mr. Boutros' extraordinary special report disclosing questionable comments he made to the grand jury, shows that the Broadview conspiracy indictment was more the result of ramrodding and chilling dissension than probable cause," former Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Samborn tells Axios.

How it works: Grand jury trials are usually quite secretive, with transcripts often sealed from public view. Prosecutors present their case to a jury, and the jurors do not need to reach a unanimous decision.

State of play: Members of Congress, including Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Reps. Mike Quigley and Jesus "Chuy" Garcia have called on Boutros to resign.

Zoom in: Former assistant U.S. attorneys who served in the Northern District have also expressed their concerns for the future of the office, writing in a statement: "The office has a renowned history of excellence pursuing justice. For decades, prosecutors and the law enforcement agents they partner with have rooted out public corruption, terrorism, financial frauds, and violent crime often associated with gangs, guns, and drugs."

• "These efforts were guided by a fundamental principle: Follow the evidence and let the chips fall where they may, which U.S. Attorneys appointed by Presidents of both parties, have followed since at least 1970," the statement said.

The other side: The U.S. Attorney's Office referred Axios to Boutros' social media comment when asked for a response to the recent scrutiny.

• "In every metric, we've vigorously brought the full weight of this Office and the federal government against dangerous criminals and serious fraudsters who previously got a pass," Boutros posted Monday.
• "That's because irrespective of factionalism, tribalism, or politics, the duty of a prosecutor is to charge good cases against worthy targets and to bring enough cases to discourage the public from committing crimes and to incapacitate specific offenders from re-offending."