JUDGE V. TRUMP IN ICE CASE
Judge Shelley Joseph is gunning for ICE and former President Donald Trump in her no-holds-barred bid to stay out of jail.
In a federal court filing, prosecutors say Joseph “is on a fishing expedition” in demanding communications during the Trump administration.
The jurist — in line for a 12% pay hike as she collects $184,000 while on suspension — faces a federal obstruction of justice charge after being accused of aiding an illegal immigrant’s escape from an immigraiton agent in her Newton district courtroom in 2018.
“Joseph’s allegation that the requested communications will show political bias is misplaced,” wrote Zachary Cunha, U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island.
Cunha is prosecuting the case instead of Rachael Rollins, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, because her spokeswoman said: “She is recused from the case.”
Cunha was appointed by President Biden as was Rollins, but he has no local ties with this case involving a Bay State district court judge.
In his response, Cunha is fighting to keep Joseph from getting any communication between the Trump administration and former U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, who was in charge in Massachusetts at the time of the judge’s indictment.
“Defendant Shelley Joseph has moved to compel the Government to produce evidence of ‘institutional bias’ at ICE against persons who oppose the immigration policies ICE is charged with enforcing,” Cunha writes. “She has not even tried to explain how evidence of alleged political bias by some ICE officials could possibly affect the credibility of a witness’s testimony. The Court should reject Joseph’s request.”
The Dominican man allegedly set free by Joseph had been deported twice before and wasn’t allowed back until 2027. The appeals court added the “alien subject (A.S.)” — as they identified him — was about to be seized by immigration when Joseph instructed her court officer to “tell the (ICE) officer to leave.”
“The clerk did as instructed, and also told the ICE officer that if released, A.S. would exit the courtroom into the courthouse lobby,” the court added.
But, instead, he was reportedly set free out “a rear sally-port exit.” He was later apprehended, but that hasn’t stopped this case.
Retired court officer Wesley MacGregor is also facing similar charges for allegedly leading the illegal immigrant through the courtroom’s lockup and exit.
Both Joseph and MacGregor are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting and obstruction of a federal proceeding and aiding and abetting. MacGregor is also charged with perjury.
An appeal to toss the case failed placing it back in Boston federal court.