August 5, 2026

California federal judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong has held the Trump administration in civil contempt, blasting its “intentional” and “not in good faith” refusal to comply with a court order to forensically image personal phones used by agents in 15 immigration operations. The punishment: $500 a day until the government fully obeys the Jan. 16 order, with weekly proof of payment now required. DOJ has already turned over $3,500 — but the clash over defying a federal court is far from over.

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