Todd Blanche reamed after 'clear violation' of judge's order: 'More than we allow'
Source: Raw Story
July 9, 2026 12:28PM ET
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was called out by name after the Justice Department violated a federal judge's sealing order by discussing a sealed case at a press conference, a magistrate judge ruled Thursday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally had ordered U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, of the Northern District of Illinois, into court after the Justice Department publicly discussed the case at the July 1 event — while her order sealing it was still in effect.
Blanche led the press conference alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, according to the Justice Department. It was a showcase for Trump's crackdown on Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang the administration designated a foreign terrorist organization.
"There was a clear violation of the sealing order," McNally said in court, according to Sun-Times reporter Jon Seidel. "The order was unambiguous." "You identified there was a complaint, you named two of the individuals, and then you gave details and asserted to the public these details form the basis for the complaint," McNally told Boutros, according to Tribune reporter Jason Meisner.
The judge then scolded Blanche, who was not in the courtroom, for making statements about the sealed documents during the press conference.
Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/todd-blanche-judge-clear-violation/
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Jul 9, 2026
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McNally points out that photos were used during the press conference.
"Those photos were lifted from this under-seal complaint and put up on a screen," McNally says.
Jon Seidel
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McNally tells Boutros the seal order didn't end until 3 p.m. July 2.
She says there was a "clear violation of the sealing order. The order was unambiguous."
11:17 AM · Jul 9, 2026
= new reply since forum marked as read
Just sayin'
