Obama Judge Xinis Scolds DOJ Lawyers During Hearing in MS-13 Gang Member Kilmar Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis held a hearing for deported MS-13 gang member and wife beater Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Friday.
Last week the Trump Administration invoked the state secrets privilege to block the attempt to return MS-13 gang member and wife beater Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the Unites States.
The Trump DOJ invoked the State Secrets Privilege in response to a federal judge’s order demanding details on Abrego Garcia’s incarceration at El Salvador’s CECOT prison.
US District Judge Xinis, an Obama appointee, responded to the Trump Administration’s invocation of the state secrets privilege and ordered a formal briefing.
On Friday, during the hearing, Judge Xinis became frustrated with DOJ lawyers and accused them of engaging in “bad faith” delay tactics.
The judge also said depositions given by key Trump Admin officials were full of “I don’t knows.”
XINIS signals frustration with the Justice Department for not making available officials with firsthand knowledge of Abrego Garcia's status and efforts to facilitate his return, despite her order. She notes the depositions were crammed with "I don't knows" from the witnesses.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 16, 2025
The DOJ said Abrego Garcia has been transferred to a penitentiary in Santa Ana.
According to El Salvador, Abrego Garcia is in ‘good health’ and has ‘gained weight.’
MORE: DOJ says there's been an update on Abrego Garcia from the Salvadoran government. According to El Salvador, he's being held in a penitentiary in Santa Ana and is in "good health." He has "gained weight."
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 16, 2025
The judge did not immediately issue a ruling on the Trump Administration’s ‘state secret’ claims.
Politico reported:
A federal judge upbraided the Trump administration Friday for what she described as “bad faith” delay tactics in the face of court orders requiring the government to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador by U.S. immigration authorities.
“I’m like the cat with the ball of string and I’m trying to keep up with the ball of string,” U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis said of the administration’s efforts to withhold key details about what it has done to comply with her order to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s release from a notorious high-security prison in El Salvador.
Xinis, an Obama appointee, described court-ordered depositions provided by key administration officials as a “goose egg.” Those officials repeatedly claimed, under oath, to be unaware of key details about the Trump administration’s effort to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s release and return, the judge said.
“What we got was a bunch of ‘I don’t knows,’” she said, emphasizing that she had ordered the administration to produce witnesses with “firsthand knowledge” of efforts related to Abrego Garcia.
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