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President Trump blasts federal judge and vows to appeal Harvard ruling

President Trump blasts federal judge and vows to appeal Harvard ruling

Axios18 hours ago
President Trump blasted a Boston federal judge overseeing Harvard University's lawsuit against his administration, vowing to appeal if she rules against the federal government.
Why it matters: Trump's post on TruthSocial is the latest example of the president calling out an individual judge, a practice that critics say raises concerns about the separation of the executive and judicial branches under the Constitution.
Catch up quick: Attorneys representing Harvard and the feds argued in court Monday over the Trump administration's decision to rescind more than $2.6 billion in federal funding.
Harvard attorney Steve Lehotsky argued that the federal government was trying to control the "inner workings" of the Ivy League school, per the BBC.
Michael Velchik, a Trump attorney, said Harvard had violated the president's executive order to combat antisemitism.
State of play: District Judge Allison Burroughs didn't issue a ruling at Monday's hearing from the bench, but that didn't stop Trump from calling her a "TOTAL DISASTER."
He noted she has ruled in favor of Harvard in the past, including when she temporarily blocked the administration's efforts in a separate lawsuit to stop Harvard from hosting international students.
What they're saying:"When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
"Also, the Government will stop the practice of giving many Billions of Dollars to Harvard, much of which had been given without explanation," he added.
Burroughs worked as a federal lawyer for 16 years, followed by a decade in private practice, before former President Barack Obama tapped her to become a Boston federal court judge.
Burroughs has overseen thousands of cases since, including federal lawsuits during both Trump terms.
What we're watching: Burroughs said the government so far hasn't shown any documents or proof that Harvard officials "have taken enough steps or haven't" to address antisemitism, the BBC reported.
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