A federal appeals court on Friday denied a request to reconsider an earlier decision that prevented a federal judge from investigating whether Trump administration officials acted in contempt for allegedly violating a court order when it deported hundreds of alleged gang members to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act in March. The decision will allow Judge James Boasberg to attempt to proceed with the early stages of the contempt proceedings, including requesting evidence from the Trump administration about the decision not to turn around a plane bound for El Salvador after he ordered it be returned. In a statement authored by three judges in the majority, the court described Boasberg's actions as "a measured and essential response to what it reasonably perceived as shocking Executive Branch conduct." Appeals court blocks contempt proceedings against Trump administration over El Salvador deportations"The district court has every ability to set a new deadline for production of the information it sought regarding the probable contempt it identified or to proceed otherwise within his sound discretion," the ruling said."For its part, the government will have the full opportunity at the appropriate time to raise any defenses it may have.
If it is dissatisfied with any appealable order the district court may enter, it will have the opportunity to seek review through the ordinary process.That is how our system of justice is designed to work."On Monday, Boasberg said the parties will discuss at a hearing on Wednesday how to proceed with the court's contempt inquiry. In the time between Boasberg's original order and Friday's decision, a whistleblower came forward to allege the Trump administration deliberately planned to defy Boasberg's order.
That new context could inform how Boasberg proceeds with the case. Chief Judge James Boasberg, Chief Judge of the US District Court, arrives at the E.Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, for the US District Court an...