“This will not end well for the Trump administration. Federal courts have the power of criminal contempt. If necessary, they can appoint their own prosecutors from the private bar. If the U.S. Marshals Service refused to enforce court orders, judges may all of a sudden find that they have the power to contract privately for that as well. There is old case law that found this power was inherent at least for Congress.

Most importantly, judges will spend the next four years deciding cases of great importance to Trump and his administration. Suggesting that federal courts are powerless in the face of a strong president is not likely going to win Trump votes on the Supreme Court in cases involving a unitary executive. To the contrary, a threatened judiciary is likely to recoil from giving the president even more power.”