Jordan Fischer

WATCH LIVE: NTSB examines collision avoidance technology and safety systems in Flight 5342 investigation Investigators from the NTSB questioned experts from the FAA, U.S. Army, MIT and two airlines about technology pilots use to avoid collisions.

FAA Acting COO Frank McIntosh on safety issues at DCA: “I think there were some things that we missed, to be quite honest with you. Not intentionally."

Says the airport became too dependent on the use of visual separation between helicopters and planes. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

As requested, Judge Jackson issues order clarifying that Shane Lamond was not convicted in connection w/ Jan. 6 or "any actions by him that could qualify as domestic terrorism."

WATCH LIVE: NTSB examines collision avoidance technology and safety systems in Flight 5342 investigation Investigators from the NTSB questioned experts from the FAA, U.S. Army, MIT and two airlines about technology pilots use to avoid collisions.

After a 10-hour hearing yesterday focusing heavily on issues at the FAA, the NTSB picks up today with a probe into the use (or lack thereof) of collision avoidance technology in the D.C. airspace.

My live blog of Day 3 of the Flight 5342 hearings. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Former DC Police official sentenced for obstruction, lying in Proud Boys case The former DC Police intelligence chief is heading to prison.

Lamond was convicted last year of leaking sensitive information about a police investigation to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio.

Tarrio, of course, was later convicted (then pardoned) in connection with Jan. 6 — but Lamond was never involved. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

NOW: Former DC Police Lt. Shane Lamond is asking a judge to delay his prison report date for 60 days while his attorneys get the BOP to remove a designation improperly connecting him to Jan. 6.

As is, the wrongful designation means he won't be going to a low-security camp.

WATCH LIVE: NTSB probes safety of air traffic control in DC airspace in Flight 5342 hearing The National Transportation Safety Board began its second day of investigative hearings into the fatal crash of American Eagle Flight 5342.

Bryan Lehman, manager of the Potomac TRACON facility that provides radar to DCA, says his warning about reducing traffic was not and has not been heeded:

"I've had more conversations, and more conversations have gone nowhere." www.wusa9.com/article/news...

WATCH LIVE: NTSB probes safety of air traffic control in DC airspace in Flight 5342 hearing The National Transportation Safety Board began its second day of investigative hearings into the fatal crash of American Eagle Flight 5342.

With FAA officials testifying air traffic control at DCA goes above and beyond to handle intense traffic demand w/ insufficient resources, the NTSB wants to know if its "chipping away at safety."

"We're pushing the line," an FAA official conceded. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

WATCH LIVE: NTSB probes safety of air traffic control in DC airspace in Flight 5342 hearing The National Transportation Safety Board began its second day of investigative hearings into the fatal crash of American Eagle Flight 5342.

After hours of testimony about how air traffic control at DCA doesn't have the staff/resources it needs, an FAA official is asked if a "we just make it work" mentality has been normalized there.

"Yes," he says without hesitation. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

WATCH LIVE: NTSB probes safety of air traffic control in DC airspace in Flight 5342 hearing The National Transportation Safety Board began its second day of investigative hearings into the fatal crash of American Eagle Flight 5342.

Day 2 of the NTSB's investigative hearings into the crash of Flight 5342 begins with more criticism of how the military operates helicopter flights around D.C.

"We are all very uncomfortable" when they're flying, says Rick Dressler, of Metro Aviation. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

WATCH LIVE: NTSB begins investigative hearings into fatal crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 The National Transportation Safety Board began the first of three days of hearings Wednesday into the deadliest American aviation disaster in 20 years.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy lays into what she describes as the FAA's finger pointing as today's hearing on the crash of Flight 5342 enters hour 10.

"Sixty seven people are dead. How do you explain that? Our bureaucratic process?” Homendy said. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Perlmutter, who is unambiguously an employee of the Legislative Branch, argues Pres. Trump doesn't have the power to fire her.

Even if that's true, Judge Kelly says, SCOTUS has made it clear the temporary, albeit unlawful, loss of her job doesn't amount to irreperable harm.

NOW: Judge Kelly denies injunction to restore Copyright Office director Shira Perlmutter.

He points in no small part to SCOTUS' recent shadow docket rulings allowing Pres. Trump to remove the chairs of the NLRB and MSPB while their cases proceed.
Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

'The lawsuits are already prepared' | More than a half dozen Flight 5342 families now ready to sue over fatal crash The Federal Tort Claims Act requires families of victims to give the government six months to investigate before filing a lawsuit.

Today marks six months since the fatal crash of Flight 5342. Beginning tomorrow, I'll be covering three days of NTSB investigative hearings in D.C. They've promised it will include the release of a new batch of documents, photographs and transcripts. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

NOW: A colalition of fair housing groups scores a win as Judge Sooknanan orders HUD to provide her with a "detailed plan" by next Monday as to how it will distribute millions of dollars in frozen (but congressionally appropriated) grants for victims of housing discrimination.

ORDER #3: Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes GRANTS a joint request from the DOJ and Kilmar Abrego Garcia to stay his release for 30 days over fears ICE will seek to immediately begin deportation proceedings.

Judge Crenshaw says Trump admin failed to tie Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13:

"For the Court to find that Abrego is member of... MS-13, it would have to make so many inferences from the Government’s proffered evidence in its favor that such conclusion would border on fanciful."

In dual orders, federal judges grant Kilmar Abrego Garcia release, bar ICE from immediately taking him into custody A federal judge in Tennessee said the Trump administration failed to prove Abrego Garcia was a danger to the community or a member of MS-13.

MORE: In dual orders, two federal judges today granted Kilmar Abrego Garcia release on bond and barred ICE from immediately taking him into custody OR initiating deportation proceedings to a third country. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

NOW: A federal judge in Tennessee has UPHELD an order releasing Kilmar Abrego Garcia on bond in his criminal case. A magistrate will decide whether to stay that for 30 days.

Near simultaneously, Judge Xinis has barred his removal from the U.S. for at least 72 hours.

Judge Boasberg has also ordered a hearing on Thursday morning.

The Trump admin went to the D.C. Circuit to stop the Alien Enemies Act case before Judge Boasberg, saying he was trying to force negotiations w/ El Salvador.

Now that it *has* negotiated w/ El Salvador and had detainees moved to Venezuela, the Circuit wants an update. Tomorrow.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia asks judge to delay release for 30 days over deportation fears The Justice Department has said ICE will likely seek to immediately deport Abrego Garcia to a third country if he's released on bond.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorneys are asking a federal judge in Tennessee to delay any order releasing him for 30 days over fears ICE will seek to immediately deport him.

That comes after weeks of the DOJ saying ICE will immediately seek to deport him. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Utah man pleads guilty to threatening Palestinian rights organization days before march on Washington Kevin Brent Buchanan, 64, of Utah, pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce.

NEW: Kevin Buchanan, of Utah pleaded guilty in federal court in D.C. today to making violent threats toward a Palestinian rights organization just days before the National March on Washington in November 2023. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to shield names of FBI agents who worked on Jan. 6, Trump cases U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb said the agents no longer had standing to sue the Justice Department after any release of names was halted in February.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by FBI agents who feared retaliation over their roles in the Jan. 6/Trump cases.

After the DOJ entered a consent agreement in February, Judge Cobb says the claims are now "too speculative." www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Immigration arrests have surged 470% in Virginia so far this year — with majority now having no criminal record Maryland has also experienced a 290% increase in ICE arrests since Donald Trump took office, with many detained for lacking legal status rather than criminal acts.

ICE arrests have surged in the DMV since Pres. Trump retook power — up 470% year-over-year in Virginia alone.

Despite the admin's "worst of the worst" rhetoric, the majority of those arrested now have no criminal history beyond their immigration status. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Hearing's over. Judge Xinis says she's going to issue an order on Abrego Garcia's motion prior to the hearing in his TN case on Wednesday. But what will that order be? Absent any concession from the govt., she does seem to want a short pause in place if he enters ICE custody.

Back from a break. Khojasteh says the July 9 stipulation from the govt. that it won't illegally deport Abrego Garcia to El Salvador again moots the case.

Xinis says, in short, that does nothing to convince me you won't violate the law in other ways.

Judge Xinis: “I’m deeply concerned that if there’s not some restraint on you that Mr. Abrego will be on another plane to another country with no notice to his lawyers. Because that’s what you’ve done before."

Judge Xinis also doesn't buy that ICE hasn't/won't start thinking about what to do with Abrego Garcia until he's in their custody.

Xinis: “It defies reality that this case is going to be left to a desk officer, and that more you press that the more it concerns me.”

It's Sarmad Khojasteh speaking for DOJ, but mostly just getting raked over the coals by Judge Xinis over the Trump admin's "utter refusal... to engage in any conversation about what's going to happen" when Abrego Garcia enters ICE custody.

It's the government's turn to speak now and they finally have Abrego Garcia's immigration detainer.