Appeals Court Slaps Down Judge Boasberg’s Targeting of Trump Admin, Citing ‘A Clear Abuse of Discretion’

The Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered federal district Chief Judge James Boasberg to end his year-long contempt investigation into Trump administration officials.

Last April, Boasberg, an Obama appointee, issued an order launching an investigation into holding members of the Trump administration in criminal contempt for not complying with his directive to turn flights around and return deportees bound for El Salvador.

In March 2025, Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order stopping the removal of at least 261 alleged Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members by the Trump administration under the provision of the Alien Enemies Act.

“Several of those targeted by Trump’s order filed an emergency lawsuit in Washington, D.C., denying that they were members of Tren de Aragua and asking the court to quickly halt efforts to deport them without due process. Boasberg, in a flurry of extraordinary and urgent weekend maneuvers, ordered a stop to the