Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-29 · by Michael Kunzelman The Associated Press
A federal judge must end his “unlawful, unnecessary and futile” contempt investigation into whether the Trump administration ignored an order blocking the deportation of planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, a Justice Department attorney argued Tuesday before an appeals court that often appeared to be deeply skeptical of the government’s case.
asserted
that → end → case
Judges from the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard three hours of arguments in the latest chapter of a case that has been a recurring flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s escalating conflict with the federal courts.
asserted
that → hear → courts
Justice Department attorney Brett Shumate argued District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg has no basis or authority to continue with his inquiry because a prosecutor — not a judge — is responsible for investigating crimes.
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prosecutor → argue → crimes
“What’s gone off the rails in this case is that the district court has purported to investigate,” Shumate said.
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Shumate → go → case
In April, a divided panel of three D.C. Circuit judges ruled that Boasberg must end his “intrusive” contempt investigation of the Trump administration.
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Boasberg → rule → administration
But the questions posed at Tuesday’s hearing suggest that the full court could give Boasberg a green light to proceed with his inquiry.
uncertain
court → pose → inquiry
The judges didn’t indicate how soon they would rule.
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they → indicate → ?
Judge Patricia Millett questioned why Boasberg shouldn’t be allowed to continue with his inquiry so he can determine if other government officials merit additional scrutiny for possible criminal contempt.
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officials → question → contempt
“Are district courts allowed to decide if people have engaged in contempt in front of them?” asked Millett, who was nominated to the court by Democratic President Barack Obama.
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who → allow → Obama
“The district court loses the authority to investigate,” Shumate said.
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Shumate → lose → authority
“That’s not my question,” Millet interjected, raising her voice.
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Millet → ’ → voice
“This is all about wordplay here on which you mean by the word ‘investigate.’”
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you → mean → word
On March 15, 2025, Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order barring the administration from transferring groups of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century law.
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Boasberg → issue → law
After the order was entered, two planeloads of migrants protected by the order departed from the U.S. on their way to El Salvador, where they were locked up in one of the world’s most violent prisons.
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they → enter → prisons
Boasberg gave a verbal order for the aircraft to turn around.
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aircraft → give → order
The administration denied violating it or a subsequent written order, but Boasberg has said the Trump administration may have acted in bad faith by trying to rush Venezuelan migrants out of the country.
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administration → deny → country
The administration has said then- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was responsible for the transfer decision.
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Noem → say → decision
On Tuesday, however, D.C. Circuit judges suggested that Boasberg should be able to identify other possible targets for a contempt investigation before referring the matter to a prosecutor.
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Boasberg → suggest → prosecutor
The case represents a major front in an escalating conflict between Trump and the federal judiciary, which has often blocked some of the president’s most ambitious and legally dubious initiatives.
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which → represent → initiatives
In case after case, the administration has demonstrated an unprecedented willingness to skirt or even defy court orders.
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administration → demonstrate → orders
Judge Cornelia Pillard, also an Obama nominee, said it undermines courts’ authority if the executive branch treats judicial orders as “optional” and is allowed to ignore them “with impunity.”
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branch → say → impunity
“The separation of powers respects the separate and co-equal authority of the different branches,” she said.
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she → respect → branches
Pillard asked Shumate if he could help her “feel more comfortable” about the administration’s perspective on that issue.
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her → ask → issue
Shumate said the department is “always advising our clients to comply with court orders.”
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department → say → orders
“It’s also the right thing to do,” he said.
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he → ’ → ?
“We have to respect court orders, and the government in this case did comply with the order.
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government → have → order
I know there may be disagreement on that.”
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I → know → that
The Justice Department says it didn’t violate Boasberg’s order “as it was best construed” and accuses the Obama-nominated judge of pursuing the contempt inquiry “with myopic and single-minded determination.”
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it → say → determination
American Civil Liberties Union attorneys say the government’s decision to ignore Boasberg’s order had “devastating consequences” for the migrants who were flown to El Salvador and held for months in a mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.
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who → say → Center
“Plaintiffs’ four months at CECOT were nothing short of barbaric,” ACLU attorneys wrote.
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attorneys → write → CECOT
“They were subjected to horrific physical and psychological abuse, and deprived of food, water, and medical care.
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They → subject → food
They were regularly severely beaten by guards and subjected to other physical abuse, including being shot at close range with rubber bullets.”
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They → beat → bullets
Trump has called for impeaching Boasberg, and the Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint accusing Boasberg of making improper public comments about Trump and his administration.
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Department → call → Trump
In a rare rebuke, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts publicly rejected calls for Boasberg’s impeachment.
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Roberts → reject → impeachment
The Aporia
