DOJ Whistleblower Alleges Trump Appointee Ordered Court Defiance Over Mass Deportations

Erez Reuveni, a former Department of Justice immigration official, revealed that Emil Bove, a top DOJ official appointed by President Trump and later confirmed as a federal judge, instructed attorneys to potentially defy federal court orders by telling the courts "F— you" to ensure deportation flights proceeded without legal hindrance. This directive was connected to the administration's controversial use of the Alien Enemies Act, an archaic wartime statute, to rapidly deport Venezuelan nationals labeled as terrorists to El Salvador, bypassing due process and judicial review. Reuveni described the moment as a bombshell, highlighting the ethical violations implied by such instructions and his subsequent firing after refusing to participate in misleading legal briefs. Court interventions, including from Judge James Boasberg, attempted to halt the deportations, but flights had already departed, raising questions about compliance with judicial authority. The whistleblower's disclosures have sparked serious concerns about the DOJ's respect for the rule of law under the Trump administration, with Emil Bove denying the allegations as distortions. This controversy sheds light on the broader tensions between executive actions on immigration and judicial oversight during Trump's presidency.