Cross-posted from “A Federal Judge Is on the Brink of Criminally Prosecuting Trump Officials for Contempt” by @remington@beehaw.org in !politics@beehaw.org
In a thundering opinion on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg announced that he had found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for defiance of his orders. It is “obvious,” Boasberg wrote, that government officials “deliberately flouted” his commands by deporting Venezuelan migrants to a Salvadoran prison on March 15 under President Donald Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. And now they must answer for their unlawful conduct. “The Constitution,” he declared, “does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders—especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it.”
Fucking do It already. Everyone involved from the ground up.
Sounds like that’s where it’s heading:
If the government refuses this offer, Boasberg held, it must swiftly identify the officials who violated his orders so they may be criminally prosecuted, facing fines and potential jail time. Critically, Boasberg notes that if the Department of Justice doesn’t appoint a prosecutor to take the case, he will do so on his own.
swiftly identify the officials who violated his orders
I think this is likely to be the hangup. Everything with this administration is so chaotic and ad-hoc that it might be hard to pin it on a single person or group. If they don’t have beyond-reasonable-doubt certainty that the person they’re holding in contempt is responsible, it’ll probably just get overturned, weakening the bigger Trump v Courts battle.
You’re probably not wrong, but hopefully there’s at least a paper trail the judge can work his way up.
This is as fast a just court can go. If you want it done more quickly, we’ll need Republicans in Congress to find their spines.
They only have until the 23rd to substantiate their defense before Boasberg charges them. He also states that if Trump’s DoJ refuses to comply, he will appoint an attorney to do so.
That’s assuming people actually turn out to the primaries. At least they’re doing what they can to oppose this compared to the Republican enablers.
Tell me when the judge actually does it though
Sure he is. Trump will just pardon him. The US president has officially gotten too much power.
Notes: presidential pardon is available for all offenses against the United States. All offenses against the US are tried by a jury. Contempt of court is not tried by a jury. Thus, is pardon available for contempt of court?
I don’t know. When it’s time, the SC will tell.
The police will NOT side with the judiciary.
They love a strongman.
Someone just like them.
Come back when Donald wears shackles and an orange jump suit.
