Hearing underway in Jeb Boasberg courtroom on Venezuelan terrorist lawsuit and deportation flights.

Coverage coming up:

https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1903076924957589614

Boasberg out of the gate accuses DOJ of using "intemperate" and "disrespectful" language in responses to the judge.

He is lecturing the DOJ about its opposition to his alleged "verbal" order to turn around the planes.

"Did you think that was hypothetical or did you understand when I said do that immediately, you meant that."

Hearing now underway in Judge Boasberg's courtroom on his nationwide temp restraining order related to the president's March 15 proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg acted within hours of a lawsuit filed by ACLU on behalf of 5 suspected Venezuelan terrorists Boasberg: I have scheduled this hearing for fact finding on government's response to my order. Focus on timeline involved and get a sense of numbers of people here. I just want "facts" not planning to issue any ruling about the government's conduct.

Boasberg asks DOJ if it's still true that the 5 individual plaintiffs are in the US. DOJ says yes.

"How many planes departed the US on Saturday under the proclamation?" DOJ says flights complied with his order but won't disclose more to anyone.

Boasberg: "Anyone including me?"
DOJ: "Yes."
Boasberg: "Based on what?"

DOJ cites national security concerns, flight patterns.

Boasberg: "You're saying it's classified? I can receive classified information. Or there is some other basis?Why are you showing up today without answers?"

Nothing but a power play.

HAPPENING NOW: Hearing underway in Judge Chutkan's courtroom related to temp restraining order sought by Climate United against EPA and Citibank forcing disbursement of $6.9 billion in "climate" funds sheltered at Citi in Nov 2024. Funds are frozen. EPA adm Lee Zeldin cancelled financial agreements with Climate United and 7 other climate "nonprofits."

The "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund" is under investigation by DOJ and EPA inspector general.

"As I see it, EPA has to take certain procedural steps before it can terminate the awards," Chutkan says.

Includes written notice of termination and reason for termination.

"It looks like EPA does this in the letter...but EPA must provide evidence of waste, fraud or abuse. EPA has not proffered that information."

Chutkan clarifies Climate United asking for TRO forcing Citi to disburse the funds. "What would maintaining the status quo look like," she asks Climate United lawyer.

Climate lawyer says status quo would require Citi to issue funds as the bank did before EPA/DOJ froze funds in mid-February.

Claims--as Chutkan suggested--the termination of the grants was unlawful and did not meet terms of agreement. Climate lawyer also claims many projects underway and the nonprofit faces "extreme irreparable harm" if they don't get their money.

NEW: A lawsuit filed yesterday by newly-formed Climate United--headed by former Obama aide Beth Bafford and stacked with Dem activists--that received $7 billion from Biden EPA's climate slush fund confirms Citibank has frozen disbursements to the fund: Every time I dig into this scandal, it gets worse.

As @epaleezeldin disclosed last month, Biden's EPA "parked" $20 billion at Citi in November 2024--a first of its kind arrangement clearly intended to keep funds away from GOP Congress and potential Trump White House.

Climate United is seeking a temporary restraining order against EPA and Citi to force the bank to dole out the funds (our tax money, obviously).

Case is before Judge Tanya Chutkan.

A motion just filed in Eric Adams case confirms Trump DOJ is investigating the origins of the indictment and prosecutors involved in the case.

This includes Danielle Sassoon and Hagan Scotten who is described as "aggressive and careerist as U.S. Attorney-1 (Damian Williams)"
🧵 Scotten appears to have high hopes of becoming a judge and a conviction of Adams was key.

Here is a text exchange a few days after 2024 election.

Hearing about to get underway in Judge Tanya Chutkan's courtroom related to blue state lawsuit against Elon Musk/DOGE seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting Musk from:

(1) Accessing or continuing to access any data systems and the information and code contained within those systems, including but not limited to systems containing sensitive or confidential agency and personnel data at the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce, or any components of any of those agencies, or copying, transferring, or in any way disseminating any data from any of the agencies identified in this paragraph.

(2) Terminating, furloughing, or otherwise placing on involuntary leave—whether paid or unpaid—any officers or employees of the federal government working within any of the Departments and agencies identified above. Apparently lots of tech difficulties but Chutkan notes the urgent nature of the matter (LOL) so she set this remote hearing on a federal holiday.

"TROs are extraordinary remedies," Chutkan notes. She says harm must be imminent to justify a TRO pending a preliminary injunction. She asks states' lawyer why they said they needed to collect more discovery and doesn't it undercut their argument for a TRO?

Lawyer points to news reports justifying the "imminent harm" claims--Chutkan pushes back, says lots of reporting and she can't rely on news reports as evidence.

"Our concerns is how the defendants are using the data," state lawyer says.

Chutkan wants more clarity on harms to the states by Musk's work--lawyers says Musk is using data to determine cuts such as Dept. of Education which would harm the states. Lawyer says they rely on Dept of Ed money for education programs.

Chutkan asks if program has been cut? Lawyer says they are waiting for confirmation. "What is the irreparable harm here," Chutkan asks again. Notes that if a program is cut and she issues a prelim injunction, program funding can be restored at that point.

Press conference underway at DOJ with AG Pam Bondi.

Bondi: We have filed charges against state of NY, Governor Kathy Hochul and NY AG Leticia James for failing to enforce federal immigration laws.

"This is a new DOJ. We are taking steps to protect American citizens." Mom of Kayla Hamilton, the 20-year-old who was raped and murdered by an illegal, speaking now.

"That's who we were letting into our country," Bondi says. "Strike One is Illinois. Strike Two is New York."

Bondi talking about NY green light laws that prevent law enforcement from asking for ID from suspected illegals.

"You will be held accountable if you do not enforce federal law."

Hearing now before Judge Jia Cobb on 2 lawsuits filed by anonymous FBI employees and agents.

Plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump DOJ from collecting and sharing names of those involved in Jan 6 investigation/prosecution.

Mark Zaid, Brad Moss, and Norm Eisen among the lawyers in court representing FBI. Judge Cobb explaining why she wants to consolidate the 2 lawsuits--one filed by FBI agents association and one filed by 9 anonymous FBI employees.

Initial argument is related to a temp restraining order then a briefing on a preliminary injunction related to releasing the names of survey respondents. DOJ appears to say they don't plan to make names public.

NEW: More evidence of doctored FBI pipe bomb video?

Here is the side by side of two different cameras from DNC security system.

One clip is at a glacial pace while the other camera appears to work at semi-normal frame rate.

THREAD: But in a similar side by side posted by the FBI last night in its clean-up press release, the faster camera is intentionally SLOWED DOWN to make it appear both cameras are in sync. (Note the cheesy music and voice over.)

The year after her husband was appointed DC US attorney, Fatima Goss Graves enjoyed a big jump in donations to her radical leftwing nonprofit: That’s the most recent 990 available. But major corporations and law firms bucked up for the group’s big 2024 gala. Here are just a few:

NEW: Ring camera footage shows FBI SWAT raid at California home of a suspected J6 protester in October 2024.

The targeted individual was not home but at least 10-15 heavily armed FBI agents stormed the house using flashbangs, aiming guns at his wife, and holding her in handcuffs while interrogating her and traumatizing the neighborhood: The harassment continued. (Note the time of the raid — 6am)

The subject, Jeff Snyder, according to his wife had left behind his phone and other items. He is still at large.

Meet Dan Hodges, one of the J6 celebrity cops.

In never-before publicly posted footage from Hodges' body camera, Hodges is seen randomly assaulting J6 protesters outside the Capitol at 2pm.

This is about 40 minutes after DC Metro and Capitol Police launched their first assaults on the crowd gathered on Capitol grounds. Police improperly used "non-lethal" munitions including stun grenades, rubber bullets, pepper balls, and tear gas on peacefully assembled protesters, which enraged the crowd.

Hodges and other DC Metro officers arrived in head-to-toe riot gear ready for a fight. Listen to the reaction from Trump supporters who had already witnessed one fatality and several injuries at the hands of police.

Some called them "storm troopers" and "traitors."

It is necessary to understand the widespread use of excessive (and unnecessary) force by police officers that afternoon that in many cases led to physical clashes between cops and protesters. You may recall Hodges July 2021 sworn testimony before J6 committee where he misrepresented his conduct on Jan 6 (as did the other police witnesses) and referred to protesters as “terrorists.”

Turns out he was doing the terrorizing

After a nearly 11-month delay, the DC appellate court finally issued its ruling on Couy Griffin appeal of common J6 misdemeanor. Despite clear consensus during oral arguments 1752 charge required foreknowledge of USSS protectee, the 2 Dem judges affirmed conviction. Trump appointee Greg Katsas, who authored the key dissent that led to SCOTUS overturing 1512c2, again dissented.

Griffin never entered the building. So let's understand what this ruling means--a US citizen cannot protest on government grounds paid for by taxpayers if someone in Secret Service protection is somewhere on the premises. (Pence had been evacuated to an underground garage by this point.)

Absolutely outrageous decision again demonstrating a rigged system controlled by Democrats in our nation's capital to set dangerous precedents for DOJ and judges to continue distorting laws to criminalize political dissent.
As I've noted here repeatedly--oral arguments, where Judge Pillard clearly conveyed deep skepticism as to how DOJ applied 1752, were held a week before SCOTUS granted cert in Fischer.

The announcement signaled the court might overturn DOJ's most common felony.

So the Dem-led DC appellate court slow walked this decision for more than 10 months. And now 2 weeks before Election Day, DC circuit (led by Obama judge) publishes the opinion upholding Griffin's conviction.

Keep in mind-- the "restricted' area was not cordoned off by Secret Service but by Capitol Police (and a weak barrier at that). The snow fencing was not related to Jan 6 protest but to protect inaugural set up.

So DOJ and Dem judges took a statute intended to "better protect the President and other national leaders from assassination, kidnapping, and assault" and used it against Americans protesting on federal property OUTSIDE the building.

Read it and weep:

Today by noon ET, Donald Trump's lawyers will file under seal objections to proposed redactions in Jack Smith's novel (that's being nice) "Motion for Immunity Determinations" currently under seal as well.

Unlike Smith's position in FLA docs case--where DOJ wanted to keep basically all discovery including grand jury testimony and other records under seal over unsubstantiated fears of "witness" intimidation--Jack Smith now is prepared to post what he otherwise refers to as "sensitive" material in an effort to weaponize J6 against Trump as Americans start to vote.

Judge Aileen Cannon routinely denied Smith's broad sealing requests. Here she is in April 2024: In DC J6 case, Smith is ready to post grand jury testimony, FBI 302s, etc--records he wanted sealed in the FLA case when Trump.

Judge Cannon ultimately ruled that some evidence could be posted with names, identifying info mostly redacted.

Here was Smith in FLA in Feb 2024:

Jim Jordan opens Weaponization committee hearing today with DOJ IG Michael Horowitz by noting the FBI has not yet found the J6 pipe bomber.

The committee, Jordan notes, is investigating the "double standards" at the "Biden/Harris DOJ." LOL major dbag Glenn Kirschner a witness in weaponization committee. Bragging about his prosecutorial record--he has been tip of the spear in attempted character assassination and harassment of Judge Aileen Cannon.

Kirschner now talking about Project 2025 and bringing up Jeff Clark being charged in Georgia. LOL Kirschner claims Project 2025 threatens the "independence and apolitical work" of the DOJ.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

In the most sneering tone possible, Tanya Chutkan as predicted grants Jack Smith motion to file a gargantuan 180-page “brief” in Trump’s J6 case. Chutkan HERSELF described Smith's proposed brief explaining why DOJ believes the new indictment is not covered by presidential immunity as "irregular" and outside the "ordinary course" of court procedure.

She again says the election is of no concern to her--which is bullshit

And so it begins.

As I have reported, DC US Attorney Matt Graves is using a new charge in the J6 prosecution to work around SCOTUS decision in Fischer, which overturned how DOJ applied 1512(c)(2).

Yesterday, Graves filed a superseding indictment against a California woman on 18 USC 372, "conspiracy to impede officers."

To my knowledge, this charge has not been brought in the nearly 4-year criminal prosecution of J6ers. (If it has, it applied only to a handful.)

Graves is now referring to elected members of Congress as "officers."
It's hard to overemphasize how cynical, defiant, and deceptive this is.

Graves indicted Christina Kelso on 1512(c)(2) on 5/15/24--ONE MONTH AFTER SCOTUS ORAL ARGUMENTS IN FISCHER.

Everyone knew SCOTUS would reverse DOJ but Graves didn't care. In a solid stick in the eye to the court, Graves continued to bring the obstruction felony.

So now Graves is (1) dismissing the count but asking for same prison sentence in existing cases or (2) filing superseding indictment to drop 1512c2 but add another felony in its place.

Getting up to speed on this batshit crazy lawsuit @nataliegwinters posted earlier today.

A Michigan "welfare rights" organization, 3 black Michigan voters, and NAACP filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and RNC in WASHINGTON DC in Nov 2020 claiming Trump/RNC violated the Voting Rights Act and Ku Klux Klan act by attempting to uncover election fraud.

Of course the plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in Trump-hating DC federal court. It was initially given to Judge Emmet Sullivan--he went on senior status so it was transferred to Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee, in Feb 2023.

Then MAGICALLY--at the same time she was handling Jack Smith's J6 indictment and addressing unprecedented questions of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution--the case was reassigned to Judge Tanya Chutkan.

The courts claimed Reyes had a "conflict" but it took Reyes 8 months to mention it?

Sounds legit Sullivan refused to toss the case out of DC.

The lawsuit is rife with allegations that are now covered by presidential immunity per SCOTUS. But that isn't stopping the defendants or Judge Chutkan from advancing the case.

When the issue of presidential immunity was raised during a Nov 2023 hearing on the lawsuit, Chutkan said the immunity matter would be "at least resolved in the lower courts shortly."

She issued her order denying immunity one week later.

Of course she was overturned by SCOTUS on July 1; Chief Justice Roberts criticized Chutkan for her hasty handling of the unprecedented issue.

She knew at this point she planned to deny Trump's immunity claims from criminal prosecution thereby greenlighting (at least temporarily) the civil suit.

John Roberts, no flamethrower, privately expressed to the other justices his disgust with DC lower courts rulings on presidential immunity.

He also criticized their decisions in his immunity order.

Judges Tanya Chutkan, Florence Pan, Michelle Childs, and Karen Henderson should be forced to resign for their sloppy work in an effort to rush DOJ’s J6 case against Trump before the election Too bad Chief Justice Roberts wasn’t in Chutkan’s courtroom on Sept 5 so he could see that she DGAF what he said in the immunity opinion.

Total defiance and arrogance on display rather than any contrition

open.substack.com/pub/juliekelly…

Hearing in Jack Smith's J6 indictment against Donald Trump just ended.

It is a travesty cameras are now allowed in federal courtrooms so the American people can see what an unprepared, intemperate, smug, and condescending judge Tanya Chutkan is. The public would be outraged at her highly partisan and aggressive handling of this unprecedented case.

Chutkan, reversed by the Supreme Court and criticized by the chief justice for rushing her immunity order, came out swinging this morning. Not only is she clearly agitated by SCOTUS immunity ruling, it is unclear whether she even read it.

On a number of occasions, she argued with John Lauro, Trump's defense attorney, about the elements of the opinion. "That's not how I read it," she said when misinterpreting what the opinion said.

At one point, during a discussion about mandatory appeal based on any other immunity decision she makes, Chutkan opined that "there will be a reversal (on her future immunity order) no matter what I do."

That is a dangerous sign. What Chutkan suggested is she will recklessly handle pending immunity questions related to Trump's comms with VP Pence because she feels SCOTUS will overturn her once again.

At issue is SCOTUS determining those comms with Pence are "presumptively immune." Chutkan said she didn't read it that way. (That's what it said.)

A ruling that Trump-Pence comms are protected under immunity would torpedo the entire indictment. Smith already had to cut 9 pages of original indictment bc Trump's comms with DOJ were conclusively immune.

Further, those immunized conversations not only are barred from being cited in an indictment, the protected comms cannot be used in any stage of the investigation or prosecution.

Headed to DC courthouse shortly to cover resentencing of Thomas Robertson, a VA police officer convicted of 1512c2 and other offenses.

After Fischer, DOJ dropped 1512c2--but as I have reported for months and detailed last night, DOJ and DC courts are thumbing their nose at SCOTUS, which overturned how DOJ and DC courts applied 1512c2.

Robertson was sentenced to 87 months in prison with 1512c2 driving most of the sentence.

Even though federal sentencing guidelines estimate his new sentence based on existing convictions should be 24-30 months--he has already been in prison for 3+ years incl under pretrial detention--DOJ wants him to serve the full 87 months.

DOJ sticking it to SCOTUS: Keep in mind--the wife of DC US Atty Matthew Graves is CEO of a radical leftwing nonprofit in DC that is part of a broad coalition working with Democrats to delegitimize the Supreme Court and remove Justice Thomas:

Here Graves (again) argues the circumstances of J6 were so unprecedented and awful that previous applications of the law and/or sentencing guidance should be ignored: