GEOFF BENNETT: A federal judge is giving the# Trump administration more time to provide## critical information about deportation# flights that took place this past weekend.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is trying to# determine whether the administration defied his## order as he faces ongoing attacks from# President Trump and his administration.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: I don't know who the judge is,## but he's radical left.

He was Obama-appointed.# And he a.. take criminals, killers, murderers, horrible,# the worst people, gang members, gang leaders,## that we shouldn't be allowed to# take them out of our country.

GEOFF BENNETT: Our White House# correspondent, Laura Barron-Lopez,## has been reporting on this and joins us now.

So, Laura, Chief Justice John Roberts# issued a rare statement, as you know,## yesterday in response to President# Trump, but it doesn't appear to have## convinced the administration to stop# its attacks on the federal courts.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: No, as we heard there, the# president was still attacking Judge Boasberg.

And also today President Trump started# fund-raising on the idea of impeaching## Judge Boasberg, sending that out to his many# supporters.

And that also comes as Elon Musk,## the special government employee, has# repeatedly been posting on X that## congressional Republicans should move forward# with impeaching Judge Boasberg specifically.

And just a quick fact-check there on some of# the things that the president has been claiming,## is that Boasberg was first appointed by# George W. Bush and then later elevated## to the federal bench by President# Obama.

And Boasberg has also made## some favorable rulings for President# Trump in the past, namely in 2017,## blocking the release of President Trump's tax# returns.

And he was confirmed to the Senate 96-0.

GEOFF BENNETT: And the judge gave the# administration more time, but it appears## his patience is growing a little thin here with# this warning that he's issued.

What did he say?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: So Judge Boasberg was clearly## not happy with the administration's# stonewalling of this information.

He said in a statement today that:# "The court seeks this information## about the flights not as a micromanaged and# unnecessary judicial fishing expedition,## but to determine if the government deliberately# flouted" his order issued on March 15, 2025,## and if so, what the consequences should be.

So, again, he's trying to# figure out whether or not,## when they moved forward with these deportation# flights, if they essentially defied his order.## Judge Boasberg also referenced Justice# Roberts' statement, saying that the## Supreme Court has made crystal clear that if# the Trump administration is not happy with## his ultimate decision in this case,# that the proper route is to appeal it.

GEOFF BENNETT: So, when the administration# refuses to answer the judge's questions,## what's their justification?

What actual# argument are they making in court?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: So, in a filing# today, the Trump administration said## that it may very well invoke what is# known as the state secrets privilege,## essentially refusing to disclose# information about these deportation## flights, saying that it -- because of the# sensitive information about the operations.

Now, that state secrets# privilege is not often used,## Geoff, and it's almost always used only# in terms of classified information.

And## Judge Boasberg in a response today to the# administration actually said, to date,## the administration has not at all said that# they consider this information classified.

Also, the president and the White# House have repeatedly claimed that## Judge Boasberg is trying to stop the president# from deporting criminals.

That's just not true,## Geoff, because the president has authority# to deport criminals as he sees fit under## current immigration law.

Judge Boasberg is# just simply trying to figure out whether or## not the president's invocation of# Alien Enemies is actually lawful.

GEOFF BENNETT: Got it.

And there's this separate case where#the administration and Elon Musk's## team were sued today for attempting to# take control of the independent agency## the U.S. Institute for Peace.# Where does all of that stand?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: So, the U.S. Institute for# Peace was established by Congress 40 years ago,## and it operates as this independent think## tank that tries to prevent and# resolve international conflicts.

And so, over the course of the last four days,## Elon Musk and his team DOGE have tried to take# control of that entity, bringing FBI agents,## bringing law enforcement to gain entry.# And in a hearing today, where Judge Beryl## Howell was hearing a lawsuit brought by former# employees, Judge Howell was pretty incredulous,## saying that the -- saying to the government that# it appeared as though DOGE terrorized staff.

She said that she was -- quote --# "offended" on behalf of the American## citizens working at USIP.

She felt as# though they were treated abominably,## and because they were threatened with criminal# investigations.

But, ultimately, Judge Howell## denied the request for -- by these employees for# DOGE to not be able to take control, essentially## saying that she wasn't sure that the merits of# the case warranted a temporary block on DOGE.

GEOFF BENNETT: Laura Barron-Lopez,# our thanks to you, as always.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Thank you.