A federal judge on Monday ordered two senior Justice Department lawyers, including one who was fired, to testify in a case concerning a deportation flight to El Salvador. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said in sworn statement that she was the one who decided for the plane to complete its flight to El Salvador. File Photo by Tia Dufour/U.S. Department of Homeland Security/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A federal judge has ordered two senior Justice Department attorneys, including one fired by the Trump administration, to testify before the court in its inquiry into a March deportation flight that proceeded in defiance of court orders.
Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., on Monday ordered Erez Reuveni, a former Justice Department attorney-turned-whistleblower, to testify the morning of Dec. 15. Drew Ensign, a senior Justice Department official, is to testify the afternoon of Dec. 16.
"Both sides shall appear in person at such hearings and will have the opportunity to question witnesses," Boasberg said in his order.
The case centers on a March 15 deportation flight of 100 Venezuelans to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, which was last used to deport Japanese Americans during World War II.
