Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (March 12, 2025)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, warned President Trump that Administration officials who violate court orders could face personal criminal and civil penalties. Raskin’s warning came in the wake of more than 40 court orders halting the Trump Administration’s illegal and unconstitutional actions to freeze congressionally appropriated funds, hobble the workforce of congressionally established agencies, remove the heads of federal agencies, access sensitive government data systems that contain the private data of Americans, and more.

“To your credit, you indicated that your Administration would obey the courts, stating ‘I always abide by the courts and then I’ll have to appeal it.’ It may therefore behoove you to remind members of your Administration that violating court orders personally exposes them to potential criminal and civil penalties. Federal judges do not need the assistance of the executive branch to impose civil or criminal penalties for violations of a court order,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

Judges do not need to rely on the Executive Branch to enforce their rulings through civil or criminal contempt proceedings. Courts have inherent authority to impose civil and criminal penalties, including by imposing monetary fines on government officials who violate court orders, ensuring that the fines are paid personally by the individual government official—not by the federal government using taxpayer funds.

Moreover, Trump may be unable to pardon Elon Musk or other Administration officials or federal employees if they were found in contempt pursuant to the court’s inherent authority, because under the U.S. Constitution, such an offense may not qualify as an “offense against the United States.” Additionally, Trump’s pardon power does not apply to civil sanctions.

Click here to read the letter.