U.S. District Judge James Boasberg generated controversy in April when he found probable cause to hold President Donald Trump's administration in criminal contempt.

However, the president was vindicated by an appeals court this past week when it shot down the judge's decision. 

District judge cited White House's refusal to stop deportation flight

According to NBC News, that move came in the form of a split ruling issued by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

At issue was Boasberg's response to how the administration had a deportation flight land as scheduled in El Salvador despite his order that it return to the U.S.

"Despite the Court’s written Order and the oral command spelling out what was required for compliance, the Government did not stop the ongoing removal process," Boasberg wrote.

The judge pointed to "boasts by Defendants intimated that they had defied the Court’s Order deliberately and gleefully."

"The Secretary of State, for instance, retweeted a post in which, above a news headline noting this Court’s Order to return the flights to the United States, the President of El Salvador wrote: 'Oopsie . . . Too late 😂😂,'" Boasberg added.

Appeals court called Boasberg's contempt threat "especially egregious"

Yet on Friday, two judges whom Trump previously appointed to the D.C. appeals court found that Boasberg had abused his authority.

"The district court’s order raises troubling questions about judicial control over core executive functions like the conduct of foreign policy and the prosecution of criminal offenses," Judge Greg Katsas wrote.

"The district court’s order raises troubling questions about judicial control over core executive functions like the conduct of foreign policy and the prosecution of criminal offense," he asserted.

Judge Neomi Rao agreed, saying that Boasberg's contempt order was "especially egregious" as it represented an "intrusion on the president’s foreign affairs authority."

Attorney general welcomes "major victory"

Friday's decision was celebrated in a social media post by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who hailed the ruling as "a major victory."

Our @TheJusticeDept attorneys just secured a MAJOR victory defending President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal alien terrorists.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed what we’ve argued for months: Judge Boasberg’s attempt to sanction the government…

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 8, 2025

"The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed what we’ve argued for months: Judge Boasberg's attempt to sanction the government for deporting criminal-alien terrorists was a 'clear abuse of discretion' — failed judicial overreach at its worst," she declared.