DOJ alerts judge to Nicolas Maduro's arrest and pleads for more time to come up with 'remedies' in Alien Enemies case
Source: Law & Crime
Jan 5th, 2026, 9:10 am
Updated Jan 5th, 2026, 9:46 am
The DOJ on Sunday told a federal judge that the military's stunning late-night capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, now in the U.S. with his wife to face a "narco-terrorism conspiracy" and "cocaine importation conspiracy" indictment, has created a "fluid" situation that means the Trump administration needs more time to come up with "remedies" in Alien Enemies Act (AEA) litigation.
The brief weekend filing from the government to Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, the jurist repeatedly stymied in his efforts to push forward a contempt probe into whether his orders were willfully and criminally ignored last year, sought a one-week extension to "evaluate and determine what remedies are possible."
"Given substantial changes on the ground in Venezuela and the fluid nature of the unfolding situation, Defendants respectfully move for an extension to respond to this Court's Order directing them to propose a remedy by Monday, January 5. Over the weekend, the United States apprehended Nicolas Maduro," the filing said. "As a result, the situation on the ground in Venezuela has changed dramatically. Defendants thus need additional time to determine the feasibility of various proposals."
Given that the deadline was today, it was only a matter of time before Boasberg responded — and he did on Monday morning. "As the Government's Motion fails to comply with [Local Civil Rule] LCvR 7(m), the Court ORDERS that it shall file a Rule 7(m) Notice by 5:00 p.m. today," he said.
Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/substantial-changes-on-the-ground-doj-alerts-judge-to-nicolas-maduros-arrest-and-pleads-for-more-time-to-come-up-with-remedies-in-alien-enemies-case/
Full headline: 'Substantial changes on the ground': DOJ alerts judge to Nicolas Maduro's arrest and pleads for more time to come up with 'remedies' in Alien Enemies case
Link to Minute ORDER - https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/?page=2#minute-entry-449192355
Link to referenced RULES (PDF) - https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/sites/dcd/files/local_rules/Local%20Rules%20AUG_2025.pdf
OF THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
EFFECTIVE AS OF
SEPTEMBER 2015
Updated: August 2025
E. Barrett Prettyman
United States Courthouse
333 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(snip) - to pgs 29 - 31 -
LCvR 7
MOTIONS
(snip)
(m) DUTY TO CONFER ON NONDISPOSITIVE MOTIONS.
Before filing any nondispositive motion in a civil action, counsel shall discuss the
anticipated motion with opposing counsel in a good-faith effort to determine whether
there is any opposition to the relief sought and, if there is, to narrow the areas of
disagreement. The duty to confer also applies to non-incarcerated parties appearing pro
se. A party shall include in its motion a statement that the required discussion occurred,
and a statement as to whether the motion is opposed.
(snip)
= new reply since forum marked as read
"But the dog ate my homework" ploy. 
