Government Lawyers' 'I Don't Know' Defense Erodes Trust

0:00On April 17th, government lawyers defending the Trump administration in immigration cases keep hitting judges with the same line, I don't know. In high-stakes hearings, they've dodged basic questions about deportations, detainee access to phones, and even why stops happened. Federal judges are getting fed up, threatening contempt in cases like the mistaken deportation of a Salvadoran man from Maryland last year. This pattern shows up across multiple courts, from Minnesota detentions to traffic stops. DOJ attorneys admit they can't confirm records or details because they haven't checked themselves, relying only on what agents tell them. Meanwhile, the department's been gutted attorney numbers dropped from nearly 13,000 in December 2024 to just over three. 1,400 by January 2026, thanks to firings, resignations, and slashed funding. Judges express shock, calling it unbelievable to defend holds without facts. Former insiders blame a brain drain and politicization, with loyalists filling spots but lacking skills.

1:05Lives hang in the balance as non-compliance risks, contempt, yet appeals often shield the government, like a recent 2-to-1 ruling walking probes. In one big example, lawyers claim ignorance on planes deporting Venezuelan gang suspects to El Salvador's tough prison, despite court orders to turn. Then back, they cited national security, but planes flew anyway, drawing mockery from leaders. Whistleblower's alleged top officials instructed ignoring orders, leading to firings but no big changes. This erodes trust in the Justice Department, turning presumptions of good faith into deep skepticism. With defiance in one of every three lost cases, the system's credibility crumbles, leaving ethical lawyers caught in the middle while deportations. Push forward, unchecked. I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to entertainment and celebrity news today. AI-powered pop culture coverage.