Appeals Court Weighs Fate of Judge’s Contempt Probe over Trump Administration Deportation Flights
The judges are revisiting whether Boasberg can probe possible defiance of his order after the panel’s 2-1 ruling blocked the inquiry.
- On Tuesday, the Justice Department urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to terminate District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg's criminal contempt probe into the Trump administration's alleged willful noncompliance with a judicial order blocking deportation flights.
- This case stems from the 2025 deportation of 137 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th-century law, which occurred despite Boasberg's order to stop the transfers.
- American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt argued the government's decision to ignore Boasberg's order had "devastating consequences," warning that failing to uphold judicial authority undermines the legal system.
- Justice Department attorney Brett Shumate told the court the probe was "unlawful, unnecessary, and futile," arguing the judge overstepped by investigating executive branch decision-making.
- Appeals court judges questioned the government's stance, with some suggesting Boasberg properly used his authority to investigate defiance of court orders, though the panel did not indicate when it would rule.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Trump sweating as court appears likely to pave the way for criminal charges
Politico reports a federal appeals court appears likely to allow a contempt investigation to go forward, which could include criminal charges, to proceed against Trump administration officials.“All but one of the 11 active judges on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals were on hand Tuesday for a nearly three-hour argument over the Justice Department’s bid to shut down contempt proceedings initiated last year by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg,” …
Appeals court poised to allow contempt probe of DHS deportation flights to El Salvador
WASHINGTON — Most judges on a federal appeals court seemed inclined during oral arguments Tuesday to allow a federal judge to continue investigating Trump officials for possible criminal contempt-of-court charges for defying a judicial order by sending more than 100 Venezuelan men to a brutal Salvadoran prison last year. The administration is challenging if U.S. […]
My Mother Lode
Appeals court weighs fate of judge’s contempt probe over Trump administration deportation flights
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge must end his “unlawful, unnecessary and futile” contempt investigation into whether the Trump administration ignored an order blocking the deportation of planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, a Justice Department attorney argued Tuesday before an appeals court that often appeared to be deeply skeptical of the government’s case....
Appeals court weighs fate of judge's contempt probe over Trump ad
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge must end his “unlawful, unnecessary and futile” contempt investigation into whether the Trump administration ignored an order blocking the deportation of planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, a Justice Department
Appeals court weighs fate of judge’s contempt probe over Trump administration deportation flights – WTOP News
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge must end his “unlawful, unnecessary and futile” contempt investigation into whether the Trump administration ignored an order blocking the deportation of planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, a Justice Department attorney argued Tuesday before an appeals court that often appeared to be deeply skeptical of the government’s case....
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