The Justice Department has petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to block a contempt inquiry led by Chief Judge James Boasberg into the Trump administration’s deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador in March.

DOJ officials allege the judge is conducting a “radical, retaliatory, unconstitutional campaign” against the Trump administration, escalating a longstanding clash over executive accountability to judicial oversight.

The big picture: The department also seeks Boasberg’s removal from the case, arguing that his actions threaten the separation of powers and undermine attorney-client privilege. • The urgency stems from a scheduled hearing on Monday, during which Boasberg will hear testimony from a former government attorney who filed a whis

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