Trump DOJ Blocks Judge’s Contempt Probe as Appeals Court Steps In
A federal appeals court has temporarily halted U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s criminal contempt inquiry into the Trump administration’s Justice Department, pausing a high-profile confrontation over whether the government defied a court order halting deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act.
The inquiry stems from Boasberg’s March 2025 injunction blocking the removal of Venezuelan migrants, after evidence emerged that deportation flights continued as the court was issuing directives to stop them. Attorneys representing the migrants argue the government’s conduct amounted to a deliberate effort to evade judicial scrutiny, raising the possibility of willful noncompliance with a federal court order.
As part of his probe, Boasberg had scheduled testimony from two key Justice Department officials. Former DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni was set to appear on December 15, followed by Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign on December 16. Plaintiffs said the testimony was critical to understanding how deportation decisions were made internally and whether officials knowingly ignored the court’s injunction.
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Those hearings, however, did not go forward. The U.S. Department of Justice appealed Boasberg’s authority to conduct the contempt inquiry, arguing the judge overstepped his powers and improperly intruded on executive branch decision-making. An appeals court issued a temporary stay just before the testimony dates, freezing the proceedings while it reviews the government’s challenge.
In court filings, attorneys for the migrants maintain that Boasberg is well within his authority to investigate compliance with his own orders. “There is no question the Court may probe whatever conduct is necessary to enforce compliance,” one filing states, emphasizing that judges must be able to ensure their rulings are not openly defied.
The Trump administration has pushed back forcefully, warning that allowing the inquiry to proceed could set a precedent for judicial interference with executive enforcement actions. The dispute now places the separation of powers squarely at the center of the case.
With testimony on hold, the clash has moved to the appellate level. How higher courts rule on the scope of Boasberg’s authority could shape not only the future of this inquiry, but how aggressively federal judges can respond when they suspect executive branch defiance of court orders.
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