Full Breakdown
Rhode Island Judge Refers Government Lawyer for Withholding Murder Warrant
5/8/2026, 5:58:32 AM
Undisclosed Homicide Warrant Triggers Judicial Referral
On April 28, 2026, District Judge Melissa R. DuBose ordered the release of Bryan Rafael Gómez, a 27-year-old undocumented immigrant, after finding his ICE detention unlawful. Government officials had not disclosed that Gómez faced a 2023 homicide warrant in the Dominican Republic. The omission became public when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release accusing DuBose of releasing a “wanted murderer.” DuBose then referred Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan to a disciplinary committee for an alleged breach of candor.
Timeline of Key Developments
- April 4 – Gómez arrested in Worcester, MA for assault.
- April 28 – DuBose ordered his release.
- April 30 – DHS press release called DuBose an “activist Biden judge.”
- May 4 – DuBose held a show-cause hearing.
- May 5 – DuBose referred Bolan to a disciplinary committee, ordered Gómez re-detained, and set a bond hearing within seven days.
Official Statements & Responses
DuBose said the nondisclosure breached ethics and called for a probe; Bolan apologized, noting ICE told him not to disclose the warrant until Dominican “use authorization” was granted, and regretted DHS press release stayed online. DHS, via Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis, defended its statement, calling DuBose an activist judge. Shapiro said actions prejudiced Gómez. Attorney’s Office declined comment; DHS did not reply.
Criticism & Opposition
DuBose denounced the DHS press release as dangerous, completely erroneous, and a threat to judicial security. Legal observers said the episode reflects broader friction between the judiciary and the Trump-era immigration apparatus. Shapiro and Gómez’s advocates called the withholding bad faith and deliberate.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Shapiro cites a Dominican attorney who says no criminal record exists; Bolan says the government has no information the warrant is illegitimate. DHS claimed the warrant could not be disclosed without “use authorization,” yet referenced it in an April 16 release. The press release labeling DuBose an activist judge stayed online despite removal requests. No court has ruled on the warrant’s authenticity or contempt.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I do think that what happened here was egregious enough to warrant a formal referral to our disciplinary committee,” — Judge Melissa R. DuBose
- “I’m not trying to make this political,” — Judge Melissa R. DuBose
- “This is yet another example of an activist judge trying to thwart President Trump’s mandate from the American people to remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities,” — Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis
Why It Matters
The case illustrates the duty of candor that government lawyers owe courts, the risk of disciplinary or contempt sanctions for breaches, and the broader impact on trust in immigration enforcement. It also highlights tension between the judiciary and DHS over compliance with court orders.
What’s Next
Special counsel Niki Kuckes will submit a report to the three Rhode Island district judges, who will decide on formal discipline for Bolan. A contempt hearing is slated to consider sanctions against DHS. Gómez will be re-detained and receive a bond hearing in immigration court within seven days.
