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To Crack a Grand Jury

Columbia Journalism Review · Bill Grueskin · last updated

One of the toughest stories for any reporter to crack is a grand-jury deliberation. Jurors are sworn to secrecy, and while witnesses will sometimes blab after their appearance, it can be exceedingly difficult to confirm what goes on before an indictment is issued.

Which makes this Los Angeles Times story all the more impressive. Reporters James Queally and Brittny Mejia cite the accounts of three unnamed officials to show how the US attorney has failed to obtain some indictments over the recent immigration protests, amid grand jurors’ skepticism of prosecutors’ evidence and good faith.

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