A published report in Reuters Wednesday morning says the Trump Justice Department looked into the idea of bringing criminal charges against Minnesota judges and defense attorneys who suggested virtual court hearings for defendants who were in fear of being arrested by federal immigration officers.
Reuters reports that the investigation into obstruction was opened back in February, but so far, no judges or lawyers have been charged.
It's also unclear whether or not the investigation is still underway.
The probe was launched by controversial former Acting Deputy AG Emil Bove who President Trump has nominated to serve a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge.
The Senate is to vote on that confirmation this Thursday.
According to the story in Reuters, FBI agents in Minneapolis this past February opened a preliminary inquiry into whether local judges and defense attorneys obstructed immigration enforcement by requesting virtual hearings, and the concept was also pitched to law enforcement officials in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.
Two of the people familiar with the discussions said FBI and Justice Department leadership in Washington supported the probe. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment to Reuters.
This is not the first signal from the DOJ that they were willing to go after judges who they see as obstructing the Trump Administration's immigration crackdowns.
The Justice Department charged Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan for trying to help a migrant evade immigration authorities when he appeared in court for a hearing. She also is alleged to suggest to the defendant's attorney he could "appear by Zoom" for his future court appearances.
Dugan was arrested in April and indicted on federal charges in May. She pleaded not guilty. Dugan filed a motion in May to dismiss the charges against her, saying she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and therefore is immune to prosecution. She argued that the federal government violated Wisconsin’s sovereignty by disrupting a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge.
Last week, a federal magistrate judge recommended that the case proceed.