By David Thomas
April 29 (Reuters) – Federal prosecutors in Chicago plan to drop the main conspiracy count against four people, including a former Democratic congressional candidate, who are facing criminal charges in connection with a September protest during the height of a U.S. immigration crackdown, defense attorneys told Reuters.
Prosecutors said in a court hearing on Wednesday that they would drop the conspiracy count, which was the only felony charge pending against Kat Abughazaleh, a former journalist who previously campaigned for a U.S. House, Andre Martin, Michael Rabbitt and Brian Straw, said defense attorney Chris Parente.
The four defendants — sometimes referred to as the “Broadview Six” in reference to their protest at a detention facility in Broadview, Illinois — are still facing charges of impeding a federal officer, which is a misdemeanor. A spokesperson for the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two others, Catherine Sharp and Jocelyn Walsh, were indicted alongside them, but prosecutors dropped the charges against them completely last month.
The conspiracy charge was “the most serious count, and it’s the most troubling because it was intended to silence dissent,” said Parente, an attorney for Straw.
Prosecutors have accused Abughazaleh, Martin, Rabbitt and Straw of crowding around a government vehicle driven by a federal agent, intentionally hindering its progress as the agent tried to drive into the Broadview facility during a September 26 protest.
The Trump administration had launched an immigration enforcement surge known as “Operation Midway Blitz” that was met with protests from residents across Chicago, including candidates and elected officials.
Federal agents shot two people, including one fatally, and deployed tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets against protesters. The Broadview facility became a flashpoint during the operation.
(Reporting by David Thomas; Editing by Emily Schmal and Bill Berkrot l)
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