DOJ Lawyer Calls Kristi Noem ‘Sacrificial Lamb’ to End Contempt Inquiry
The en banc court will weigh whether Judge James Boasberg can keep investigating a possible criminal contempt violation tied to 238 migrant transfers.
- On Tuesday, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard arguments on whether District Judge James Boasberg can proceed with a criminal contempt inquiry into the Trump administration's 2025 deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.
- The legal battle stems from March 2025, when the administration deported detainees to El Salvador's CECOT prison despite Boasberg's temporary restraining order, prompting his finding of probable cause for a potential criminal contempt violation.
- DOJ lawyer Brett Shumate argued the probe is "unlawful, unnecessary, and futile," while ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt countered that the government's conduct was "disrespectful to the judiciary" and caused "devastating consequences" for migrants.
- Federal appeals judges expressed concern about halting the investigation before identifying the responsible party, questioning whether former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was being made a "sacrificial lamb" for broader violations.
- Although the D.C. Circuit provided no timeline for a ruling, the court appears likely to allow the inquiry to proceed, potentially enabling criminal charges against senior officials if sufficient evidence supports the contempt allegations.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Newsweek: Judges Appear Open to Possible Kristi Noem Criminal Probe
Judges Appear Open to Possible Kristi Noem Criminal Probe This article features Government Accountability Project's whistleblower client Erez Reuveni, and was originally published here. Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday appeared receptive to allowing Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg
JUDICIAL OVERREACH ON TRIAL: DC Circuit Weighs Whether Judge Boasberg Can Keep Hunting Trump Officials
The full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard nearly three hours of arguments Tuesday over whether Judge James Boasberg can continue a criminal contempt inquiry into Trump administration officials, with Justice Department lawyers calling the probe 'unlawful, unnecessary, and futile.'
Judge panel signals possible contempt charges won't stop at Trump's 'sacrificial lamb'
Federal appeals judges signaled that criminal contempt charges could reach beyond former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whom one judge called a possible "sacrificial lamb."Ten of the 11 active judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard nearly three hours...
DC Circuit grapples with allowing Boasberg to continue contempt inquiry
A federal appeals court weighed on Tuesday whether to allow U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to move forward with a criminal contempt inquiry into Trump administration officials over last year’s deportations of Venezuelans to El Salvador, as Justice Department lawyers allege the judge’s investigation is “unlawful.” Boasberg, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, has […]
Appeals Court Weighs Bid to Stop Contempt Probe of Deportation Flights
James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, attends a panel discussion at the annual American Board Association Spring Antitrust Meeting at the Marriott Marquis in Washington on April 2, 2025. (Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images)
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
