Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance warned that a senior Department of Justice official could face jail time if they continue to block a court order from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg.
In an interview with MSNBC host Ana Cabrera, Vance explained that the government is “stonewalling” the court by delaying the release of key information. She pointed to a recent filing by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said Cabinet-level discussions are still ongoing about the reasons for the delay.
Vance criticized Blanche’s statement, saying it only shows minimal effort to comply with the court’s order. “Todd Blanche has simply said, ‘I’m aware and I’ve been involved in these conversations at the cabinet level,'” she noted. “While it’s understandable for the Cabinet to take time on sensitive matters like national security, the government is at risk of violating the judge’s order. If the judge becomes frustrated, he could take serious action.”
She went on to explain that federal rules allow a judge to appoint a private prosecutor if the government refuses to act. “This has happened before,” Vance said, recalling a similar situation during the Bush administration where a judge allowed a contempt case to proceed against a private party.
Vance also pointed out that courts in Washington, D.C., have shown that government officials could face penalties, including jail time, if found guilty of contempt.
“There’s good indication from courts in the District of Columbia that you can make sanctions against the government, including jailing government officials or requiring them to pay damages personally if a contempt prosecution is successful,” she added.
You can watch the full interview below on MSNBC.
