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BumRushDaShow

(157,049 posts)
Thu May 1, 2025, 07:18 PM May 1

Power of judges to hold Trump administration in contempt may be undermined with filibuster-proof GOP proposal [View all]

Source: CNN Politics

Published 11:26 AM EDT, Thu May 1, 2025


CNN — The ability of federal judges to hold the Trump administration in contempt for defying their orders could be undermined by legislation approved by a House Republican-led committee late Wednesday in a bill that may be impossible for Senate Democrats to filibuster. Republicans say that the provision is aimed at discouraging frivolous lawsuits. Democrats and the administration’s legal opponents charge that GOP lawmakers are seeking to give President Donald Trump the green light to engage in illegal conduct that had been prohibited by courts.

“Instead of providing support for the judicial branch, this Judiciary Committee bill seeks to strip to strip the courts of their power to hold the administration in contempt when the President violates court orders,” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said before Wednesday’s vote. The legislation comes amid a multi-front campaign by Trump and his allies to attack the legal institutions that are serving as a check on his aggressive use of presidential power. That has included smearing judges who have ruled against his policies and issuing executive orders targeting law firms that represent his political foes.

The Justice Department has also at times resisted providing courts with information relevant to the disputes before them. The House proposal would defund the enforcement of contempt orders if the judge had previously not ordered the plaintiffs in the case to put up a security bond with a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order granted in their favor – essentially making it more expensive to challenge administrative policies.

Notably the language is retroactive, so if it became law, it would hamstring a court’s ability to hold the administration in contempt for defying a court order issued before the bill was enacted if the judge had denied bond. The Trump administration has already faced the possibility of contempt proceedings for allegedly not complying with an order from Judge James Boasberg that sought to halt the deportation of certain migrants.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/01/politics/judges-contempt-undermined-house-republicans

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Frivolous Lawsuits? Chasstev365 May 1 #1
The GOP uses the law to protect themselves and gain power and money. Irish_Dem May 1 #2
Francis Wilhoit: markodochartaigh May 1 #11
Indeed. OldBaldy1701E May 2 #16
"And, what is giving these conservatives the power to do that?" The felon's majority. ancianita May 2 #20
I was going for a more 'base' answer, but you are correct. OldBaldy1701E May 2 #21
You're right. The base drive of this majority is Mammon. Selling out. Being "on the take." ancianita May 2 #23
Trump is just the sleazy salesman, the GOP is all in for a fascist dictatorship. Irish_Dem May 1 #3
A lawsuit a plaintiff has won is by definition not a frivolous lawsuit. SunSeeker May 2 #14
They are contributing to making trump NJCher May 1 #4
rather short-sighted keroro gunsou May 2 #15
The Judicial Branch is the third leg of our democracy. . . . h2ebits May 1 #5
Absolutely...this is overreach by the legislative branch. It won't stand PortTack May 2 #17
Thanks for your support. I'm not an attorney but the bloviating has long since gotten ridiculous. h2ebits May 2 #19
Does this bill likely have the votes in the house to pass? SSJVegeta May 1 #6
There is one of them words i hate. (FRIVOLOUS) bluestarone May 1 #7
All according the "Tyrant's Handbook" Grins May 1 #8
Here it comes Iamscrewed May 1 #9
The triad of checks and balances BidenRocks May 1 #10
... Solly Mack May 1 #12
That bill is about as unconstitutional as it gets. It would immediately be challenged. SunSeeker May 2 #13
Thank you for the informed post! It's really important that we understand what they are up to, but also the PortTack May 2 #18
What worries me is who the courts can get to physically enforce their rulings muriel_volestrangler May 2 #22
Me too, so I researched it, and courts can deputize local law enforcement. SunSeeker May 2 #24
Interesting - thanks for that muriel_volestrangler May 3 #25
It's not just Trump. J_William_Ryan May 3 #26
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