Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Judge Revives Contempt Proceeding Against Trump Officials
A judge is restarting an investigation to find out if some people in the Trump administration broke the rules by sending people away from the U.S. without following a court's orders.
The judge wants these people to tell what happened under oath.
The government says they didn't do anything wrong, but the judge thinks they might have.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is resuming his inquiry into whether Trump administration officials defied his March court order
He will demand sworn testimony from officials to determine if they violated the order by deporting hundreds of men to El Salvador
Boasberg's decision follows a federal appeals court ruling that he can proceed with the contempt proceedings
The Justice Department disagrees with Boasberg's interpretation and argues that the administration did not willfully defy any court orders
The case involves the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act
- Who
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, Trump administration officials
- What
- Resuming inquiry into potential contempt of court
- When
- Wednesday, November 18, 2020
- Where
- U.S. District Court
- Why
- To determine if Trump administration officials violated a court order by deporting men to El Salvador
Judge Boasberg's Stance
Trump Administration's Stance
Contempt Proceedings
Judge Boasberg's Stance
Believes they are necessary to determine if officials defied court order
Trump Administration's Stance
Disagrees with judge's interpretation and argues no willful defiance occurred
- Court Order Date
- March 2020
- Number of Men Deported
- Hundreds
- Destination
- El Salvador
- Law Under Which Deportations Occurred
- Alien Enemies Act
- Status of Venezuelan Men
- Released from Salvadoran prison and returned to Venezuela