Federal Judge Warns Trump Officials Over 'Troubling' Case Comments

A federal judge in Oregon is considering whether the government violated a temporary restraining order by refusing to pause National Guard deployments to Portland, amid allegations of indiscriminate force by federal officers against protesters and President Donald Trump's justification of the deployment due to unrest. In Tennessee, U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw sharply criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for making public statements about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran deported and then returned to face human-smuggling charges, which the judge found to be exaggerated and inaccurate, violating court rules limiting commentary on active prosecutions. Crenshaw ordered federal prosecutors to remind DOJ and DHS employees, including Bondi and Noem, of restrictions on public comments to protect the defendant's right to a fair trial and warned that future breaches could bring sanctions. The judge also demanded transparency regarding internal communications about the decision to charge Abrego Garcia, citing previous government noncompliance with court directives. These cases highlight tensions between executive actions and judicial oversight, emphasizing the judiciary's role in ensuring due process and adherence to legal procedures.