5mo ago

Judge orders Trump administration to immediately unfreeze federal funding and to stop violating his rulings

www.businessinsider.com

Summary

A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze federal funding, accusing it of violating a previous court ruling.

The lawsuit, filed by 22 states and D.C., argues the freeze is unconstitutional and causing harm. Trump, JD Vance, and Elon Musk have suggested defying court orders.

The administration appealed the ruling, while legal experts warn officials like the Treasury Secretary could face contempt charges if they ignore it.

The case tests executive power limits and judicial authority.

84 comments

I’m sure he’ll listen this time judge.
- I'm actually really hoping he doesn't. It's better we get this over with sooner than later. Piss the courts and the legislature off before he has gathered enough of a foothold
  
  Speed run the end of democracy! LFG!
  
  This is really the ideal path. Fracture fast, begin the healing.
  
  i'm actually with you on this one. i'm tired of the dread. let's get this fucking shit show over with. i need to know if humanity prevails or not. if not, that's fine. we were an inferior species that deserves whatever we get. it's just a shame what ecological destruction our downfall is going to wreak. the plants and animals didn't deserve it.
  i just can't go on knowing that what we're living in right now will continue. if it does, we are truly in hell and i must have done something very wrong a long time ago.
- It is literally in their playbook, ignore court orders. Dark Gothic MAGA is terrifying
  
  This video is prophetic and I highly encourage everyone to watch it. It sounds like a conspiracy theory except we see virtually all of it happening in front of our own eyes right now.
  
  holy shit, how have I not heard of this
- I know right? Usually felons don’t listen to the legal system.
  
  Especially when they have not one but 34 felony convictions.
Curious if there will be a "straw that broke the camels back" moment with america and this president or is everything he ever does just going to be taken by the public. Im sure the french would have a guillotine out by now
- I just wanna know where all the “I need guns to fight back against tyranny” people are. They’re reeeeal quiet.
  
  Responsible gun owners don’t crow about their weapons.
  
  a not insignificant portion of those people support the current administration. tyranny to them is Dems in control of government.
  
  They won't do shit, to them that's not tyranny because their team won.
  
  I agree. Lots of talk, all the walking has been backwards...
- Fascism is not exactly sustainable. If not the people or the military, he is bound to piss off someone close to him enough to betray him eventually.
  The issue is how many lives will be lost in the process.
  
  I'm very curious to what will be the "moment"
  
  Here's hoping there's a Jaime Lannister out there.
- This is the camel not the straw.
- https://fedia.io/m/history@lemmy.world/t/1432476/An-excerpt-from-They-Thought-They-Were-Free-The-Germans
  No, there won't be one. Can only hope some generals of us armed forces decide to try a coup or start a civil war.
  https://fedia.io/m/history@lemmy.world/t/1432476/An-excerpt-from-They-Thought-They-Were-Free-The-Germans
- I was hoping for a reenactment of Our American Cousin during halftime, myself.
  
  Perhaps he could ride in a motorcade in Dallas sometime.
Ok, the last time he violated a judge's orders, the charges were much more serious and he was facing potential jail time, both from the criminal trial he was a part of and the gag order imposed on him.
He all-but told the judge to go fuck himself on a daily basis right outside the courtroom, violated the gag order ten fucking times, and received exactly no punishment. And that was when he was a criminal defendant.
He's now President of the United States, has all three branches of government in his back pocket, and was basically anointed as a king by the Supreme Court, who declared he's all but immune from prosecution.
And this judge thinks he's going to obey his orders this time? He told you guys to fuck off on the daily when he was a civilian, and y'all did exactly nothing about it. Now he's POTUS. The fuck is he planning on doing about it now when he violates his orders again? Send out more orders? Trump could literally tell this guy to go fuck himself and his orders with a chainsaw live on television and there's fuck-all he can do about it.
- So you want the judge to give him a pass?
  
  the hottest take i think I have ever seen. well done.
  
  I want the judge to put in writing actual consequences that will be followed through on when Trump refuses to comply.
It will be really interesting for the supreme court to decide if a president can be held in contempt of court.
- It doesn’t even need to go that far. The next step after failure to comply with a court order would be dispatching the US Marshalls. They report to the DoJ, so I’d say that’s pretty unlikely.
  Scholars and pundits are saying that act of inhibiting their own accountability will be the official end of the US government as it was designed, and the official beginning of an authoritarian regime.
- That "official acts" rule is gonna do a lot of heavy lifting.
  
  That's the trick though. Contempt of court isn't the same as breaking a law and doesn't have the same restrictions. For example, a person can be held in jail for contempt indefinitely without trial until the person yields to the demand of the judge. This sometimes happens to people who refuse to pay child support that the courts know they can afford.
- Do they bite the hand that feeds them to appease their ego.
I think the judge is mistaken. This is an official act. That means it’s not constrained by things like rulings. In fact, law just isn’t applicable. They really should put more effort into staying up-to-date. /s
- Edit to add sarcasm tag?
  
  One would hope that’s not necessary!
- Well, supreme Court already said if it's an official act, then he is immune. So if he decides a court order but it's an official act, then he can't be guilty.
  Great job there scotus
  
  I get your point, but just because you and your freedom are immune to prosecution doesn't mean your money and property are safe from seizure. For example, if it's believed that Mar-a-Lago was used in the process of a crime, like withholding documents or discussing illegal things, then it can be seized in civil asset forfeiture and Trump would have to prove his innocence to get it back. Same with his money. I think it's possible in the current context to find a judge willing to try this. I have no idea how the execution of such an order would play out. But there are still interesting cards unplayed.
- I’m not saying you’re wrong in your opinion here, but I am gonna ask what happens if Trump does not comply with a federal judge’s order or the order from a state judge that would have implications and federal rulings?
  I think the courts already determined that you can’t prosecute a sitting president, are there no repercussions?
So the circus continues. Another day, another contempt-of-decency performance from the executive branch’s greatest hits. McConnell’s ruling isn’t just a legal smackdown—it’s a neon sign flashing “constitutional arson in progress.”
Funny how “irreparable harm” gets shrugged off like a minor paperwork error. The admin’s playbook? Gaslight, obstruct, project until the courts buckle under sheer audacity. Democracy’s not just teetering—it’s doing backflips off a cliff while they bet on which branch breaks first.
"mom tells infant to 'cut it out' more at 6"
- More like "Mother tells adult son to stop robbing the homeless person"
- Trump is only 1cm...according to Stormy. When is that?
Or what? This clown gonna convict the other clown of a felony?
Ya'll have primed him to ignore your shit because nothing serious has ever happened to him from the courts. You fucking baffoons. Lay in your bed.
ARREST HIM.
- no no, asking nicely will surely work.
  
  I'm sure he will learn his lesson this time.
- Who has the authority to do that?
  
  The military is about it, which may or may not actually be worse, but I'm willing to chance it.
Or else....??
Another strongly worded letter?
- I guess in a perfect world, impeachment and removal from office. If that fails then military coup? I don't see either of those things happening.
  
  Well it's not Jan 6th yet. This country only does coups on Jan 6th.
Contempt, that's literally what it is
And if he Doesnt?
- Many brows will be furrowed.
Hahahaha,
Remember when SCOTUS gave ambiguous power of a king to the president?
Looks like there is gonna be more power struggle than previously implied.
where is the fucking non paywall link to this bullshit?
If a judge can garnish my wages or dictate the terms of a company bankruptcy settlement then they should be able to take control of the payments relevant to their ruling.
Hah!
Good luck with that.

84 comments