WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, a federal judge called on attorneys to present witnesses and devise strategies for conducting a contempt investigation against the Trump administration. This follows their alleged failure to redirect planes carrying Venezuelan migrants back from El Salvador in March.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, based in Washington, stated that a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has empowered him to move forward with the investigation. This inquiry aims to assess whether there is enough evidence to consider a criminal referral.
Back on March 15, Judge Boasberg had ordered aircraft, which were transporting suspected gang members, to return to the United States. However, the planes landed in El Salvador instead, where the migrants were subsequently detained in a well-known prison.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Boasberg remarked, “I am authorized to proceed just as I intended to do in April seven months ago.” He went on to emphasize his determination, stating, “I certainly intend to find out what happened on that day.”
Boasberg suggested that having witnesses testify under oath could be the most effective approach for the contempt investigation. Alternatively, he mentioned that the government might submit written declarations to clarify who was responsible for defying his order. He expressed a desire to initiate hearings by December 1.
The Trump administration has refuted any wrongdoing, arguing that the judge’s instruction to return the planes was only issued verbally during court proceedings and not documented in a written order. Tiberius Davis, a U.S. Justice Department attorney, informed Boasberg of the government’s objection to continuing with the contempt proceedings.
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