The #Trump admin invokes the #StateSecrets privilege, saying it will give Judge #Boasberg no more information about the #deportation flights to inform his decision about whether the govt defied his order.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.56.0.pdf

This morning, Dpty AG (& fmr #Trump #criminal defense atty who lost the case that resulted in Trump becoming the first convicted #felon to be elected POTUS in history) #ToddBlanche submitted a sworn declaration at confirming that there are ongoing Cabinet-level discussions that Blanche is involved in about whether the admin will invoke the “#StateSecrets privilege” to shield some info from the court.

“To begin, the Govt cannot proffer a regional ICE ofcl to attest to Cabinet-level discussions of the #StateSecrets privilege; indeed, his declaration on that point,…is based solely on his unsubstantiated 'understand[ing].' Although its skepticism concerning the suitability of such privilege…remains, the Court at a minimum requires an ofcl w/direct involvement to swear that deliberations of the privilege's invocation are ongoing at the level Cerna attests.“

“He then stated, 'I understand that Cabinet Secretaries are currently actively considering whether to invoke the #StateSecrets privilege over the other facts requested by the Court's order. Doing so is a serious matter that requires careful consideration of national security & foreign relations, & it cannot properly be undertaken in just 24 hours.'

“This is woefully insufficient.”

[a seriously scripted declaration]

Judge #Boasberg is exasperated.

“On March 18, 2025, the Court ordered Defendants to provide by noon the following day specific information regarding flights carrying individuals subject to the Court’s Temporary Restraining Orders issued 3 days before.…Defendants instead filed a pleading shortly before the deadline seeking to stay the Order in large part on the ground that they were considering whether to invoke the #StateSecrets privilege.…

#ElonMusk & his rocket company, #SpaceX, have repeatedly failed to comply w/federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting #StateSecrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings w/foreign leaders….

Concerns about the reporting practices — & particularly about #Musk,… triggered at least 3 federal reviews….

Smith’s team will almost certainly appeal the ruling by Judge #AileenCannon throwing out the #ClassifiedDocuments indictment, which charges #Trump w/ illegally holding onto a trove of highly sensitive #StateSecrets after he left office & then #obstruction of the government’s repeated efforts to retrieve them.