Judge Advances Contempt Probe on Venezuelan Deportation Flights

A federal judge in Washington on Wednesday directed attorneys to identify potential witnesses and propose methods for conducting a contempt investigation into the Trump administration's handling of deportation flights carrying Venezuelan migrants in March.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg stated that a recent ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed his authority to advance the probe, which aims to assess whether there is enough evidence to recommend criminal prosecution. The inquiry stems from an incident on March 15, when Boasberg verbally ordered two aircraft, each carrying about 120 Venezuelan nationals accused of gang affiliations, to return to the United States after they had departed from Texas. Instead, the planes proceeded to El Salvador, where the migrants were detained in a prison facility.

During the hearing, Boasberg emphasized his commitment to the process. "I am authorized to proceed just as I intended to do in April seven months ago," he said. He further remarked, "I certainly intend to find out what happened on that day." The judge suggested that sworn testimony from witnesses would be the most effective approach but...