Judge refers Philadelphia district attorney to federal prosecutors for investigation

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday for investigation into whether he broke the law while overseeing a post-conviction case.

U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond disqualified Krasner and Assistant DA Matthew Stiegler from participating in the case involving Dennis Johnson, who is seeking to have his second-degree murder conviction overturned.

Diamond also took the unusual step of recommending that the DOJ investigate whether Krasner committed any crimes, including perjury and obstruction of justice, according to court documents.

In a memorandum referring the matter for “investigation and other appropriate action” the judge said “troubling” activity by Krasner and Stiegler was uncovered during recent evidentiary hearings into how the DA's office handled the Johnson case.

That included allegedly pressuring staffers to lie to Diamond in court and threatening “consequences” for those who did not follow Krasner’s orders, the judge wrote.

“I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” Diamond said.

Krasner said in a statement that he “respectfully and vigorously” disagrees with the decision.

“I look forward to appealing to the higher court as soon as the law allows,” Krasner said, adding that he could not comment further because the case is pending.

Stiegler did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania also did not immediately reply to inquiries seeking details about the potential investigation.

Johnson was convicted in 2009 of killing Kenyatta Smith. In 2022 the DA's office made a court filing stating that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

Court documents show that DA employees told Krasner the case should be directed to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office due to potential conflicts of interest involving Stiegler. Krasner opposed the move, saying he needed to stay involved to “protect the office,” according to the documents.

Johnson’s petition remains on hold. Diamond said the DA’s office could continue to handle the case moving forward, but it is not immediately clear which prosecutor might take it on.

FILE - Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner joins immigrant rights supporters as they demonstrate during a May Day rally outside the federal courthouse in Philadelphia, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s trade deficit totaled 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion) last month as surging oil prices due to the conflicts in the Middle East sent the cost of imports soaring.

It was the fourth straight month of red ink, according to the Finance Ministry’s preliminary data Wednesday.

Resource-poor Japanimports virtually all its oil. Previously that came mostly through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has been curtailed due the stalemated Iran war.

Japan’s imports in August rose 28% from the same month a year ago to 11.15 trillion yen ($71.9 billion), as the price of oil soared.

Japan’s exports rose 19.3% to 10 trillion yen ($64.5 billion), mainly in computer chips and autos.

By nation or region, Japan’s exports to the U.S. grew 24.9% from the previous year, while imports from the U.S. rose 55.2%.

Japan’s exports to the Middle East declined 5.2%, while imports from that region fell 4.2%. Japan’s exports to Europe edged up 11%, while imports gained 20.4%.

The price of Brent crude has soared over the last year, from the upper $60 levels per barrel to more than $100. That reached as high as $118 a barrel in April.

The focus is now on what the U.S. and Japan might do on interest rates. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made remarks widely seen as prodding Japan’s central bank to raise interest rates, a move that would support the yen.

The yen has fallen recently against the U.S. dollar, although it briefly gained due to joint intervention by the U.S. and Japan.

The dollar is trading recently at about 155 yen. Some analysts are expecting it to fall to about or below 150 yen later this year.

The Bank of Japan meets later this week to decide on its benchmark interest rate. Markets are already figuring in a raise to 1.25% from the current 1%.

A stronger yen would help at a time when the nation must import oil and other products, including food and raw materials.

It would hurt giant exporters like Toyota Motor Corp., by reducing the value of exports when converted into yen.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is promising more government spending, as well as a reduction of the consumption tax on food.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to lift its short-term interest rate Wednesday for the first time in three years to fight stubbornly high inflation.

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

A customer fills up the tank of a vehicle at a gasoline station in Tokyo, on March 18, 2026. (Naoki Kawano/Kyodo News via AP)