Appeals Court Considers DOJ Bid to Halt Contempt Probe Over Deportation Flights
In Washington, an appeals court is considering a Justice Department argument to end a federal judge's contempt probe into the Trump administration's handling of deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants.

Clarksburg Weston, WV, September 29, 2026 —
An appeals court in Washington is currently reviewing arguments from the Justice Department seeking to terminate a federal judge’s investigation into contempt allegations surrounding the Trump administration’s management of deportation flights concerning Venezuelan migrants.
The legal proceedings involve a dispute over how deportation flights, specifically those affecting Venezuelan nationals, were handled by the previous administration. A federal judge initiated a contempt probe, suggesting potential mishandling or disregard for legal obligations in these operations.
The Justice Department, representing the government, is now presenting its case to an appellate court. Their central argument aims to persuade the higher court to halt the ongoing contempt investigation. The specific details of the Justice Department’s argument and the grounds for the federal judge’s contempt probe were not fully elaborated in the provided summary.
The core of the issue appears to revolve around accountability for actions taken during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, particularly concerning the deportation of Venezuelan migrants. The appeals court’s decision will determine whether the federal judge’s inquiry into the matter can continue or if it will be shut down based on the Justice Department’s legal challenge.
Further details regarding the timeline of these deportation flights, the specific allegations of contempt, the parties involved beyond the Justice Department and the federal judge, and the potential implications of the probe’s continuation or termination are not available in the summary. The outcome of the appeals court’s review remains pending.
Story summarized from the original created by MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated Press on www.wboy.com, see more information here.
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