WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Friday asked an appeals court to block a contempt investigation aimed at the Trump administration for its failure to return planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador in March. This case has become a significant point of contention between the judiciary and the White House, intensifying an already fraught relationship over judicial orders that impact President Donald Trump’s broader policies.
The Justice Department is requesting that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit make its ruling before Monday, coinciding with Chief Judge James Boasberg's scheduled hearing where he will hear testimony from a former government attorney about a whistleblower complaint.
Department representatives argue that Judge Boasberg has exhibited bias and has effectively created a circus that threatens the separation of powers and the attorney-client privilege alike. They described the upcoming hearing as seemingly a prolonged search for additional witnesses, rather than a genuine inquiry into relevant facts.
As recently nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, Boasberg maintains that recent appeals court rulings empower him to continue with the contempt inquiry, analyzing evidence on whether the circumstances merit a prosecution referral.
Boasberg has indicated concerns that the Trump administration may have acted in bad faith in their attempts to hastily deport Venezuelan migrants, disregarding his order aimed at preventing these deportations.
In its defense, the Trump administration contends that there was no procedural violation, claiming that Boasberg’s directive about the planes was not formally documented in his written order.
The judge has also scheduled testimony for Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign, who allegedly conveyed Boasberg’s orders to the Department of Homeland Security.
“This long-running saga never should have begun; should not have continued at all after this Court’s last intervention; and certainly should not escalate into a conflict between these branches of government,” the Justice Department articulated in its court filings.
