JAG buried under DOJ cases after mass resignations slapped with 'coercive fine,' found in contempt as judge stews over basic failure

A justice successful Minnesota recovered a subject lawyer moving for the DOJ successful civilian contempt and threatened to good him regular until the Trump administration returns a released ICE detainee's "identification documents," the latest lawsuit of authorities noncompliance amid a "mass exodus" of national prosecutors.

The staffing issues were laid bare a fewer weeks ago, with much than a twelve resignations roiling the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota aft the deficiency of DOJ civilian rights probes of the fatal ICE and CBP shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

At the time, a DHS lawyer volunteering to assistance with the caseload amid Operation Metro Surge tried to explicate to a justice wherefore the authorities had repeatedly failed to comply with tribunal orders successful habeas corpus cases.

Julie Le practically begged the judge to clasp her successful contempt truthful she could get immoderate sleep, inundated by cases without — successful her relationship — being adequately trained successful what to bash successful national court, arsenic opposed to ICE matters successful the enforcement branch's Immigration Court.

"If anything, it ought to beryllium a informing sign," U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell remarked connected the caseloads, stating that "detention is not lawful conscionable due to the fact that compliance with merchandise orders is administratively hard oregon due to the fact that an cognition has expanded beyond the Government's capableness to execute it lawfully."

Blackwell, 1 of Derek Chauvin's prosecutors, besides suggested helium was frustrated that helium has repeatedly had to inquire for "the date, time, and determination of the merchandise of idiosyncratic who was ordered released, successful galore instances, a week oregon much successful the past" and not gotten that answer.

Le past uttered the words that made it nary astonishment she would beryllium swiftly removed from her role: "the strategy sucks" and "this occupation sucks."

A caller summation to Bondi's squad whitethorn person recovered himself successful a akin bind.

Matthew Isihara has been helping retired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's DOJ arsenic a peculiar adjunct U.S. lawyer (SAUSA) connected galore habeas cases, tribunal records show. In 1 of those cases connected Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino made a constituent to find Isihara successful civilian contempt, seemingly frustrated — similar Blackwell — by a basal nonaccomplishment of the authorities to comply with a tribunal order.

Provinzino, a Joe Biden appointee, had ordered 9 days earlier that an "unlawfully detained" Mexican antheral surviving successful Minnesota "since 2018 with his lawful imperishable nonmigratory spouse" beryllium released from ICE custody successful Texas and returned. But erstwhile ICE fto Rigoberto Soto Jimenez retired of an El Paso facility, helium didn't person his "identification documents" and helium wasn't returned to Minnesota. And he evidently inactive doesn't have his Minnesota driver's licence oregon his Mexican Consulate ID.

According to section Fox affiliate KMSP, Isihara, a judge advocator wide successful the Defense Department, told the justice helium was atrocious this fell "through the cracks," pointed to U.S. Attorney's Office turmoil, and explained he's had astir 130 cases to woody with truthful far.

CONTEMPT FINDING: Matthew Isihara apologized for allowing the bid successful this habeas lawsuit to "fall done the cracks." Blamed concern connected lawsuit overload & important understaffing successful US Attorney's office. Says helium has picked up astir 130 habeas cases successful conscionable past month. @FOX9

— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) February 18, 2026

Provinzino, for her part, called Isihara connected the carpet after a proceeding to amusement cause, informing of a regular $500 "coercive fine" until helium tin record a papers confirming compliance.

"SAUSA Matthew Isihara is recovered successful civilian contempt of court. Beginning 2/20/2026, SAUSA Isihara is ordered to wage $500 for each time Petitioner is not successful possession of his recognition documents," a infinitesimal bid said.

Before she was a judge, Provinzino worked arsenic a prosecutor astatine the same office Isihara is assisting.