So What Is Going On With Larry Krasner?
by Alex Lloyd Gross
It’s big news that Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has been referred to the justice department, to determine if he violated any laws while involved with a 2009 murder case. US District Judge Paul Diamond wrote an opinion that Krasner may have violated the law, along with Matt Steigler, from Krasner’s office.
This does not mean that Krasner has been indicted. It does not mean he is under arrest. It does mean that he has to answer questions regarding his office’s handling of re litigating the murder conviction of appeal for Dennis Johnson, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 in the killing of Kenyatta Smith and sentenced to life imprisonment.
In a scathing 40 page document, Diamond wrote that there is hat least an appearance of a conflict of interest.
Krasner said he is looking forward to appealing this and denies that his office did anything improper. The decision to charge Krasner with anything must come from the US Attorney. For now, it is business as usual in Krasner’s office, except they are no longer involved in the Dennis Johnson case.
Part of the issue is Krasner saying that Johnson had ineffective council, even though his lawyer, Michael Coard was a close acquaintance of Krasner, and even attended his inaugural in January 2018.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo Delaware Valley News.com Michael Coard attends Krasner’s 2018 Inaugural.
Detective John McDermott, who investigated the killing, testified that a third witness, Amin Vicks, had told investigators that Johnson was the shooter. Vicks did not testify in court, however, leaving Johnson’s lawyers unable to cross-examine him about the alleged identification.