A federal judge found probable cause that the Trump administration acted with contempt of court in violating his order to immediately halt deportations of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued an order Wednesday saying that officials acted in “willful disregard” of his verbal order on March 15 to turn around planes carrying Venezuelans now held in a notorious prison in El Salvador. Boasberg said at a court hearing on April 3 that “the government acted in bad faith throughout that day.”
I agree, but it’s all about process. The only thing that ensures our rights are respected is the process that’s used every step of the way. Issuing this order was a critical step in the process. Without the contempt order as a foundation, there could be no consequences for the administration ignoring the order. I completely share your frustration, but these things matter as they build up to what should inevitably be real consequences for the fascists. The judge knows we’re all watching, so he’s gotta be sure to get it right.
That said, I’m not confident there will actually be any meaningful consequences, but there definitely wouldn’t be any without this order.