Probable cause to hold Trump administration in contempt

 

Live updates: Judge finds probable cause to hold Trump administration in contempt for violating deportation order

Follow the latest news on President Donald Trump and his administration | April 16, 2025

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Judge finds probable cause to hold Trump administration in contempt for violating deportation order

Edited By  BRIDGET BROWN, BERNARD McGHEE, CURTIS YEE and PETER ORSI

Updated 4:27 PM PDT, April 16, 2025

A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold President Donald Trump’s administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to El Salvador.

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg warned he could refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not “purge” its contempt. Boasberg said the administration could do so by returning to U.S. custody those who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order so that they “might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability.”

Other news we’re following:

• Maryland senator travels to El Salvador: Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to the Central American nation Wednesday and met with its vice president to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent there by the Trump administration despite a court order preventing his deportation. Van Hollen said the government declined to let him to visit Abrego Garcia, who is in prison.
• US stocks drop: The S&P 500 sank 2.2% after falling as much as 3.3% earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 699 points, or 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite sank a market-leading 3.1%. Nvidia warned new restrictions on exports to China will chisel billions of dollars off its results.
• Free tax filing system ending: The administration plans to eliminate the IRS’ Direct File program, which allowed users to file tax returns directly to the agency for free, according to two people familiar with the decision. Users said it made tax filing easy, fast and economical. Republican lawmakers and commercial tax preparation companies complained it was a waste of taxpayer money.
• Administration sues Maine over transgender athletes: The state refused to comply with the government’s push to ban transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports. The federal government’s lawsuit escalates a dispute over whether Maine and other states are violating Title IX antidiscrimination law, which bars discrimination in education based on sex.