Rachel Maddow Criticizes DOJ for Misleading Judge in Rhode Island Case: 'Lying to a Federal Judge Is a Really Big Deal'

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow expressed outrage on Monday after a Justice Department lawyer apologized to a federal judge for concealing details about an arrest warrant, which resulted in a ‘patently false’ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press release targeting the judge.

‘Lying to a federal judge, lying about a federal judge is a really big deal if you’re a lawyer or a government official,’ Maddow stated during her show.

Case Details: Rhode Island Federal Judge Melissa DuBose

Maddow outlined the case involving Rhode Island’s U.S. Attorney’s office and U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose, a Biden appointee. On Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan formally apologized to Judge DuBose after a DHS press release, published last Thursday, falsely accused her of knowingly releasing an ICE detainee accused of murder in the Dominican Republic.

The press release, titled ‘Activist Biden Judge Releases Violent Criminal Illegal Alien Wanted for Murder,’ claimed the judge had released a detainee despite an outstanding murder warrant. However, Bolan admitted during the apology that the press release was ‘simply not true.’

According to Politico, Bolan stated he did not inform Judge DuBose about the warrant because he believed authorities in the Dominican Republic had not yet signed off on it.

Judge DuBose’s Response and Contempt Concerns

Judge DuBose described the press release as ‘completely erroneous and dangerous,’ warning it endangered judicial security and ‘setting up a false narrative.’ She indicated she would consider pursuing contempt charges against both federal departments involved.

‘That is very not good,’ Maddow remarked, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

She also highlighted how the incident reflects broader failures within the Trump administration, both legally and in public perception.

‘Even some of their schemes and scams are falling apart every day, every news cycle,’ Maddow added. ‘The list just piles up of things at which they are failing.’

Additional DOJ Controversy: SPLC Requests Transcript

Maddow also referenced a recent request by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to obtain the transcript of the DOJ’s presentation to a grand jury. The SPLC believes the DOJ may have withheld critical information in a criminal case last month, where the department accused the civil rights group of fraud.

‘The fact that this is even in play in a high-profile case like this is unheard of for Justice Department lawyers,’ Maddow noted. ‘But in Trump’s Justice Department, that’s kind of how they roll. They are not great at this.’

The DOJ has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment regarding the incident.