Full D.C. Circuit hears arguments on whether criminal contempt probe of Trump officials can proceed

The en banc D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals held a rare hearing with all 11 active judges to determine whether U.S. District Judge James Boasberg can continue his criminal contempt investigation into Trump administration officials who defied his March 2025 order to halt deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. The Justice Department argued the probe is an unlawful intrusion into executive branch deliberations, while ACLU attorneys warned that blocking the inquiry would strip courts of the power to hold officials accountable for ignoring judicial orders. The majority of the judges appeared inclined to allow the contempt proceedings to move forward, potentially exposing former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials to criminal charges.