DOJ places attorney on leave after struggling in Maryland migrant case

[Eugene]

Source: ABC News

The Justice Department has placed on indefinite paid leave the attorney who argued on behalf of the government on Friday in a lawsuit brought by a Maryland man who was deported to El Salvador in error, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Sources said Erez Reuveni, the acting deputy director for the Office of Immigration Litigation, was told by officials at the DOJ that he was being placed on leave over a "failure to zealously advocate" for the government's interests.

"At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement on Saturday. "Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences."

The government is seeking to appeal an order from the judge who presided over Friday's hearing and ordered the department to facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia by Monday.

-snip-

By Alexander Mallin and Katherine Faulders
April 5, 2025, 6:22 PM


Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/doj-places-attorney-leave-after-struggling-maryland-migrant/story?id=120526466

[nature-lover]

1. Was he struggling due to his ineptness or how indefensible the case is?

[Eugene]

3. Indefensible and the attorney admitted as much before the judge, according to MSNBC.

Bondi wants DOJ lawyers to make chicken salad out of chicken shit if necessary.

[brer cat]

4. The case was indefensible no matter who they threw up there.

[underpants]

26. Yeah it's kind of hard to argue when you've already admitted it was a mistake

in a court filing.

Bondi is just showing her loyalty to Trump here.

[intheflow]

30. Bondi is showing why she should be disbarred. n/t

[underpants]

32. She's perfect

The TV Cabinet

She’s on the air as much as it appears she’s at her desk. She fits - blonde, superficially attractive, etc.
that’s clearly how Trump picked this third string JV team.

My breakdown of Fox News is at post 8 here
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20212655

[riversedge]

2. Bondi: At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United S

whow. I wonder when she made that rule??

[Sneederbunk]

10. OK Pam, you do it. Show us how it is done.

[Trumpdumper]

11. Yup. I can hear the judge now: "And before you answer the court's question, Ms. Bondi, remember that lying to the court

… is not in your longterm professional interest.”

[Irish_Dem]

13. Bondi wants her attorneys to lie their asses off in front of the judge.

And give the judges a hard time. Tell off the judges, etc.

[moniss]

14. Right you are and she could care less about ethics or what happens

to the license of that attorney.

[Irish_Dem]

23. Exactly. Everyone is expendable and disposable in the Maga Cult.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Justice Dept. Accuses Top Immigration Lawyer of Failing to Follow Orders

Hat tip, Ken White. I’ve appended the NYT article with his skeet.

Justice Dept. Accuses Top Immigration Lawyer of Failing to Follow Orders

Erez Reuveni conceded in court that the deportation last month of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who had a court order allowing him to stay in the United States, should never have taken place.


The Department of Justice building in Washington. Erez Reuveni was promoted to acting deputy director of the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation two weeks ago. Sarah Silbiger for The New York Times

By Glenn Thrush
Reporting from Washington
April 5, 2025
Updated 6:42 p.m. ET

A senior Justice Department immigration lawyer was put on indefinite leave Saturday after questioning the Trump administration’s decision to deport a Maryland man to El Salvador — one day after representing the government in court. … Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche suspended Erez Reuveni, the acting deputy director of the department’s immigration litigation division, for failing to “follow a directive from your superiors,” according to a letter sent to Mr. Reuveni and obtained by The New York Times.

Mr. Reuveni — who was praised as a “top-notched” prosecutor by his superiors in an email announcing his promotion two weeks ago — is the latest career official to be suspended, demoted, transferred or fired for refusing to comply with a directive from President Trump’s appointees to take actions they deem improper or unethical.

“At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in a statement sent to The Times on Saturday. “Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences.”

{snip}

Alan Feuer contributed reporting.

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice and has also written about gun violence, civil rights and conditions in the country’s jails and prisons. More about Glenn Thrush

Domestic Enemy Hat
‪@kenwhite.bsky.social‬

Follow
I want to leave space for people to repent and reform and realize they were wrong. But I think Erez Reuveni knew he was doing the wrong thing, on the wrong side, breaking his oath to the constitution going into this argument. /1

‪Anna Bower‬ ‪@annabower.bsky.social‬
·
1h
Erez Reuveni argued on behalf of the Justice Department during Friday’s hearing in the Abrego Garcia case.

Reuveni has reportedly been placed on leave.

Here’s one exchange with the judge that may have contributed to his ouster:
THE COURT: Mr. Abrego Garcia should not have been removed, right?
MR. REUVENI: Yes.
THE COURT: Can you answer for me, then, on what authority was he seized? When he was --when he was taken off the street, taken out of his car, what authority did those law enforcement officers have to do that?
MR. REUVENI: So, Your Honor, my answer to a lot of these questions is going to be frustrating. I am also frustrated that I have no answers for
you on a lot of these questions.
ALT
April 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social/post/3lm3vt4klzc23

[Trumpdumper]

7. She has no concept of how the government is supposed to behave in court

While a defense attorney is supposed to zealously advocate, the government is supposed to see that justice is done. Occasionally that means admitting you have no argument or case. The U.S. attorney acted entirely appropriately. Bondi is by far the least capable attorney general in history — and there have been some awful ones before her.

[Raven]

8. He may have lost his job, but he probably saved his Bar license.

[Trumpdumper]

9. Only unethical morons need apply for DOJ jobs

Bondi’s absurd dictum is actually good news. Zealots unethically arguing the government’s cases will be taken to the cleaners by judges as well as opposing counsel.

[bluestarone]

12. Bondi is the true inept one. So now these inept people are starting to

Throw their own people under the bus. So, judge why not get Bondi in front of you to get the supposedly right answers? That's what i feel needs to happen.

[moniss]

15. This is also an excuse on their part to ask for more time

so a new attorney can "get up to speed". Meanwhile Bondi will be hoping El Salvador moots the case.

[Wiz Imp]

16. Hey asshole Bondi

This attorney did advocate on behalf of the United States by not lying and by refusing to go along with unconstitutional actions. Nothing could be more American than that! DOJ attorneys pledge an oath to the CONSTITUTION not to Pam Bondi or Donald Trump.

[Sanity Claws]

17. He was probably afraid of being held in contempt

It seems that Bondi wants her underlings to put their careers on the line every time they go to court.

[elleng]

18. ' indefinite paid leave '

HAHAHAHA!

TOO damn bad.

[Bengus81]

25. He'll be lucky to get one paid leave check from this bunch of thugs

"Indefinite paid leave"....ROFLMFAO!!

[aggiesal]

19. Next week, A.G. Blondi will announce ...

Judge Paula Xinis will be placed on leave over a "failure to zealously advocate" for the government's interests.
Blondi then followed up with "The judge works for the government. She's basically the home town umpire, so we expect nothing more than to always decide on the home team favor."

[Ford_Prefect]

21. What they want is committed Zealots who put loyalty above the law.

In other words they want their version of authority to enforce their version of what they want the laws to do. Even if that means twisting the meaning of lawful justice inside out to obtain the preferred results

[WestMichRad]

22. The new strategy that DOJ will take with many cases...

… is to not even attempt to argue the merits of the case, but rather to pound the table and insist that the judge has no authority to even hear the case. Then automatically appeal when they lose, as they usually will. Their hope is that SCOTUS can be bullied to agree with them.

Makes it so much easier on the prosecutorial attorneys, they needn’t be competent lawyers.

[underpants]

33. Made for TV and talk radio

Deep State
The poor persecuted Trump
Etc.

[perdita9]

24. This administration has no respect for educated professionals

They don't listen to them, the order them to take unconstitutional actions then the blame them for following Trump's orders.

[underpants]

34. Spot on

Look at those professionals in their office jobs 😡 they should be as vulnerable to getting canned like the rest of us in “Right to work” states.

[samnsara]

27. so 'indefinate' paid leave should be a

DOGE red flag!

[Harker]

28. Not enough of a zealot.

Of all the fascist, tinpot dictators Trumpsky resembles, the one I haven't heard him likened to is Saddam Hussein.

[intheflow]

29. I hope he sues.

“I was fired for not being overtly snotty to a judge and for not justifying human trafficking on behalf of the state.” Court finds for the plaintiff!

[cab67]

35. So a lawyer loses his job for being unable to pretend something that's stupid isn't stupid?

Looks like this lawyer, unlike Bondi, is actually concerned about his long-term legacy. Good for him.

[Best_man23]

36. "We now need MAGA ardor rather than professional ability, I cannot expect that from the likes of you"

Not a direct quote, but I could imagine the conversation between InJustice Barbie and Erez Reuveni went something along those lines.

My headline "quote" was paraphrased from a line a certain Austrian Corporal used just before firing his General Chief of Staff in 1942.

Reuveni needs to resign tomorrow and then go to the media and tell them the truth.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

37. It wasn't just Erez Rueveni.

Last edited Mon Apr 7, 2025, 12:05 PM - Edit history (1)

Joshua J. Friedman
‪@joshuajfriedman.com‬
Also!

‪Gabriel Malor‬ ‪@gabrielmalor.bsky.social‬
·
2h
While we're thinking about this, Erez Reuveni and Auggie Flentje are the only two counsels of record in the 4th Cir. appeal, at least for the moment.

Both are career DOJ put on administrative leave over the weekend by political appointees.
April 7, 2025 at 8:30 AM

https://bsky.app/profile/joshuajfriedman.com/post/3lm7xmkcxps2i

Gabriel Malor
‪@gabrielmalor.bsky.social‬

Follow
While we're thinking about this, Erez Reuveni and Auggie Flentje are the only two counsels of record in the 4th Cir. appeal, at least for the moment.

Both are career DOJ put on administrative leave over the weekend by political appointees.

‪Joshua J. Friedman‬ ‪@joshuajfriedman.com‬
·
2h
No word yet from the Fourth Circuit. I imagine we'll hear from them today, but at least for now, the government is required to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US by midnight.
April 7, 2025 at 8:25 AM

https://bsky.app/profile/gabrielmalor.bsky.social/post/3lm7xf6urx222

Joshua J. Friedman
‪@joshuajfriedman.com‬
No word yet from the Fourth Circuit. I imagine we'll hear from them today, but at least for now, the government is required to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US by midnight.

‪Joshua J. Friedman‬ ‪@joshuajfriedman.com‬
·
2d
NEW: Maryland federal judge Paula Xinis orders the Trump administration to "facilitate and effectuate the return" of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—the man the govt admits it erroneously deported to El Salvador—by no later than Monday.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
The Court has reviewed Plaintiffs' Motion for Injunctive Relief pursuant to Rule 65 of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, along with supporting memoranda, reply briefs, and the record in this case. ECF No. 6. The Defendants named in this suit are the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement {"ICE"}, the Acting Executive Associate Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Director of ICE's Baltimore Field Office {collectively, the "Defendants"}. ECF No. 1.
Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia {"Abrego Garcia"}, a native of El Salvador, was granted withholding of removal in 2019, which prohibited his removal to El Salvador. The record reflects that Abrego Garcia was apprehended in Maryland without legal basis on March 12, 2025, and, without further process or legal justification, was removed to El Salvador by March 15, 2025.
Abrego Garcia is detained in El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center {Centro de
Confinamiento del Terrorismo or "CECOT"}. Plaintiffs contend that his removal violated 8 U.S.C.
ALT

§ 1231(b)(3)(A) and its implementing regulations, as well as the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A), and other applicable legal protections.
Based on the record before the Court, I find that this Court retains subject matter
jurisdiction. I further find that: (1) Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits because Abrego
MalGarcia was remove
El Salvador in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
specifically,U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A), and without any legal process; (2) his continued presence in El Salvador for obvious reasons, constitutes irreparable harm; (3) the balance of equities and the public interest weigh in favor of returning him to the United States; and (4) issuance of a preliminary injunction without further delay is necessary to restore him to the status quo and to avoid ongoing irreparable harm resulting from Abrego Garcia's unlawful removal. For the reasons stated above, the Court hereby DIRECTS Defendants to return Abrego Garcia to the United States no later than 11:59 PM on April 7th, 2025. A memorandum opinion further setting forth the basis for this ruling will be issued in due course.
Accordingly, it is this 4th day of April, 2025, by the United States District Court for the
District of Maryland, hereby ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiffs' Motion (ECF No. 6), construed as one for preliminary injunctive relief, is
GRANTED;
2. Defendants are hereby ORDERED to facilitate and effectuate the return of Plaintiff
Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States by no later than 11:59 PM on
Monday, April 7, 2025;
3. This preliminary relief is issued to restore the status quo and to preserve Abrego Garcia's access to due process in accordance with the Constitution and governing immigration
ALT

statutes;
4. The Clerk is DIRECTED to TRANSMIT copies of this Order to the parties.
Paula Xinis
United States District Judge
ALT
April 7, 2025 at 8:20 AM

https://bsky.app/profile/joshuajfriedman.com/post/3lm7x4aclok2b

[LetMyPeopleVote]

38. Court of Appeals scolds the Justice Department for penalizing the lawyers who argued the case

Last edited Mon Apr 7, 2025, 12:05 PM - Edit history (1)

The attorney in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case was suspended by Bondi for not lying to the court and coming up with a bogus explanation for deportation of this man. The Court of appeals called Bondi out on this

Link to tweet

This is a major call out of Bondi by this Court of Appeals