Exclusive: US considered charging Minnesota judges, lawyers in immigration crackdown, sources say

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Reuters

Exclusive: US considered charging Minnesota judges, lawyers in immigration crackdown, sources say

By Sarah N. Lynch
July 16, 20256:32 AM EDT Updated 3 hours ago

Summary
* FBI eyed judges, defense lawyers over virtual hearings for defendants in country illegally, sources say
* Status of early-stage probe into judges, defense lawyers remains unclear
* Virtual hearings common post-COVID, seen as routine by defense attorneys

WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department explored bringing criminal charges against Minnesota judges and defense lawyers who discussed requesting virtual court hearings to protect defendants from being arrested by federal immigration officers, according to five people familiar with the matter.

In February, FBI agents in Minneapolis opened a preliminary inquiry into whether local judges and defense attorneys obstructed immigration enforcement by requesting virtual hearings, and the concept was also pitched to law enforcement officials in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal Justice Department deliberations.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-considered-charging-minnesota-judges-lawyers-immigration-crackdown-sources-2025-07-16/

---

Reposted by ‘Homeland Heritage’ Hat
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

>>>>>>
AblativMeatshld
‪@ablativmeatshld.bsky.social‬

Follow
I want the names of every motherfucker that spoke in favor of charges.

‪Reuters Legal‬
‪@legal.reuters.com‬
· 6h
The U.S. Justice Department explored bringing criminal charges against Minnesota judges and defense lawyers who discussed requesting virtual court hearings to protect defendants from being arrested by federal immigration officers, according to five people familiar with the matter.

Exclusive: US considered charging Minnesota judges, lawyers in immigration crackdown, sources say
The U.S. Justice Department explored bringing criminal charges against Minnesota judges and defense lawyers who discussed requesting virtual court hearings to protect defendants from being arrested by federal immigration officers, according to five people familiar with the matter.
reut.rs
July 16, 2025 at 11:20 AM
>>>>>>

I want the names of every motherfucker that spoke in favor of charges.

— AblativMeatshld (@ablativmeatshld.bsky.social) 2025-07-16T15:20:53.808Z