Displaying items by tag: contempt of court

A US federal judge may hold the Trump administration in contempt for defying a court order which temporarily halted deportation flights carrying over 200 individuals to El Salvador. The administration had invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, typically reserved for wartime powers, to justify the removals. James Boasberg criticised their ‘wilful disregard’ of his ruling, saying their responses were unsatisfactory. Though the Supreme Court later affirmed Trump’s decision, Boasberg insists that does not excuse the violation of his earlier temporary restraining order. If the administration does not provide the information he has requested by 23 April, he will seek to identify the individuals who ignored the order to stop the deportations. Trump officials deny wrongdoing, asserting that the individuals deported were gang members and the flights had departed before the court's intervention: Trump has also called Boasberg a ‘troublemaker and agitator’. El Salvador agreed to take in the deportees in exchange for $6 million in aid: Trump has expressed an interest in sending more deportation flights there.

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison after breaching a court order not to repeat false allegations about Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi. Robinson, who founded the English Defence League, was initially sued for libel in 2021 and ordered to pay £100,000 to Hijazi after his unfounded accusations severely impacted the teenager and his family, who had relocated to the UK for refuge. The court issued an injunction barring Robinson from continuing these allegations, which he breached by producing a film entitled Silenced and making further comments in interviews. Robinson admitted that this constituted contempt of court. His case has sparked protests from his supporters, who gathered in London demanding his release.