Judge orders Trump officials' depositions, blasts inaction in Abrego Garcia case
GREENBELT, Md. — A federal judge Tuesday ordered depositions from several Trump officials, blasting the administration for failing to take any steps to secure the return of a Maryland man wrongly deported to a Salvadoran prison.
During a hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis repeatedly clashed with Drew Ensign, an attorney with the Justice Department, as the judge contended the government had flouted her orders demanding updates on efforts to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return.
"What the record shows is that nothing has been done. Nothing. I asked for reports from individuals with direct knowledge and I've gotten very little information of any value,” the judge said, noting that she gave “a very simple directive” for updates on steps the government had taken.
Xinis, an Obama appointee, said she was holding off at this juncture on deciding whether the government should be held in contempt but would still rule down the road.
For now, the judge ordered the administration to respond to interrogatories and document production requests. She also ordered the four government officials who signed affidavits in the case to sit for depositions by April 23, giving Abrego Garcia’s lawyers a chance to question key immigration officials in the administration.
But Ensign signaled the........
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