The Bulwark Podcast S2 Ep1023: Ben Wittes: Sorry, We Still Have Due Process
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Apr 17, 2025 Ben Wittes, Editor-in-chief of Lawfare and governance studies fellow at the Brookings Institution, dives deep into the complexities of due process amidst government actions against immigrants like Abrego Garcia. He discusses Judge Boasberg's firm stance against defiance in legal rulings and critiques the administration's inconsistent narratives surrounding key figures, including Vladimir Putin. Wittes emphasizes the importance of judicial accountability and the intricate balance between executive power and civil liberties, shedding light on the real human stories behind legal battles.
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Judge Boasberg's Contempt Finding
- Judge Boasberg found the government willfully defied his court order to turn around planes deporting Venezuelans to El Salvador.
- This defiance created a potential contempt of court and requires rectification or individual accountability.
Personalizing Deportation Stories
- Humanizing deportation cases by focusing on an individual like Gilmar Abrego Garcia draws public attention better than abstract policy.
- Detailed court findings strengthen legal accountability but risk being dry and inaccessible to wider audiences.
Distracting Focus on Personal Flaws
- Media attention focused on individual flaws in Abrego Garcia's past distracts from the broader injustice of summary deportations without due process.
- Accusations should not justify bypassing fundamental legal rights and protections.