'Things have to move faster': Ex-prosecutor warns Trump is 'outmaneuvering' federal courts

Former prosecutor and ex-MSNBC host Katie Phang said Thursday President Donald Trump is "outmaneuvering the federal courts through overt and blatant defiance."

Phang said the administration is defying the courts by saying, “You know what? In the dead of night, we’re going to do sh--.”

"And by the time someone figures it out, it’s going to be too late," Phang said during a Thursday appearance on the MeidasTouch network.

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She called on federal judges to uphold the rule of law.

"It’s time. It’s time for federal judges to acknowledge that they have lifetime appointments. They do not have to worry about their job security — and those lifetime appointments should give them the courage to continue to uphold the rule of law, but also to put some damn teeth — some enforcement teeth — into the court orders they’re issuing," Phang said.

The former Miami-Dade County prosecutor said the courts will have to move quickly to block the administration's actions.

"I’ve told you all time and time again: you have to have patience. Yes, I understand that the contempt process moves too slowly for our taste — but you know what? Things have to move faster," she said.

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On Wednesday, a federal judge sharply criticized New Jersey prosecutors over the widely publicized arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) outside an immigration detention center earlier this month, only for the charges to be dropped a few days later.

Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey and personal attorney to President Donald Trump, appeared on Fox News on May 9 shortly after federal agents detained Baraka during a protest at the facility, which has been the focus of ongoing demonstrations demanding greater transparency about conditions inside.

Baraka had been charged with trespassing, but on Monday, Habba announced that the case was being dismissed “for the sake of moving forward.”

Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa described the situation as an “embarrassing retraction.”

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“An arrest, particularly of a public figure, is not a preliminary investigative tool. It is a severe action, carrying significant reputational and personal consequences, and it should only be undertaken after a thorough, dispassionate evaluation of credible evidence,” Espinosa said.

Watch Phang's remarks below, or by clicking this link.