Ed Martin, WCADAGPA

May 18, 2025·1 hr 12 min·7 clips

Judge Sinise catches the DOJ invoking a privilege 1400 times after claiming zero documents were withheld.

This episode of "UnJustified" is hosted by Alison Gill and Andy McCabe, who analyze legal and political developments from a critical perspective. They focus on several ongoing court cases involving the Trump administration's immigration policies and related government actions. The hosts detail a hearing in the Abrego Garcia case where Judge Sienes scrutinized the government's invocation of state secrets and deliberative process privilege over discovery documents. Government lawyers, including one referred to as Gwyn, argued they could only share 32 out of 1,000 documents, prompting the judge to question their compliance. Attorney Rossman, representing Abrego Garcia, argued the government was delaying for "delay's sake" while his client remained detained. Judge Sienes explored the government misconduct exception to deliberative process privilege, with lawyer Cooper arguing misconduct should pierce that privilege. In the Seacoast case, the Trump administration filed sealed documents claiming the U.S. lacks constructive custody over detainees in El Salvador and that President Bukele would not release them upon request. The hosts note the administration's legal strategy mirrors past tactics by invoking multiple privileges to delay proceedings. Breaking news reveals a 7-2 Supreme Court injunction blocking removals under the Alien Enemies Act in Texas, with Justices Thomas and Alito dissenting. Tulsi Gabbard fired National Intelligence Council officials Michael Collins and Maria Langen-Reikhoff after they produced an assessment contradicting the rationale for the Alien Enemies Act. The episode also mentions the DOJ shuttering a public corruption squad that aided Jack Smith and an investigation into Jim Comey for sharing a meme. Ed Martin, the new "weaponization czar," is revealed to be under investigation by an ethics office and working with January 6th defendants. A surprising moment occurred when a DOJ lawyer, Gwyn, admitted Abrego Garcia was unlawfully removed, echoing a statement that previously got another attorney fired. The hosts emphasize that Judge Sienes, despite frustration, is building a detailed record likely leading to a contempt finding. They contrast the administration's sealed claims in the Seacoast case with public statements from officials like Marco Rubio and Christy Noem. The tone is conversational and analytical, with the hosts dissecting legal documents and courtroom reporting from journalists like Anna Bauer and Kyle Cheney. They maintain a critical stance toward the Trump administration's legal arguments and express sympathy for fired intelligence officials. Listeners interested in detailed legal procedure and immigration policy analysis would appreciate this episode. Those seeking neutral news reporting or supportive coverage of the administration's policies might find it less appealing.

As heard by us

Procedure leads the story, with the courts doing the real talking.

UnJustified stays with the legal machinery instead of treating it as backdrop. It moves from Judge Sinise's hearing on whether discovery in the Abrego Garcia case falls under state secrets and deliberative process privilege to the Trump administration's sealed filing for Judge…

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The legal chessboard, not the cable-news summary.

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