Republican files impeachment against judge who ruled against Trump deportations
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) introduced a resolution to impeach U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who over the weekend ordered the Trump administration to halt deportations of Venezuelans whom it said were gang members.
The move comes as President Trump is also calling for Boasberg’s impeachment, as the administration argues that his ruling, blocking Trump from invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to swiftly deport the migrants, was not lawful.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday pushed back at that statement, saying it had been established that "impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision."
Gill’s impeachment article introduced Tuesday charges that Boasberg abused power “to advance political gain while interfering with the President’s constitutional prerogatives and enforcement of the rule of law” with the ruling, adding that he “attempted to seize power from the Executive branch and interfere with the will of the American people.”
“By making a political decision outside the scope of his judicial duties, he compromised the impartiality of our judicial system and created a constitutional crisis,” the article states.
Boasberg had told the Trump administration that any flights with the Venezuelan migrants that had already departed should turn around and return to the U.S., but the White House has been accused of defying that order by not turning already departed flights around.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on the social platform X that the judge’s order had “no lawful basis” because the migrants had already been removed from the U.S., adding: “Federal courts generally have no jurisdiction over the President’s conduct of foreign affairs, his authorities under the Alien Enemies Act, and his core Article II powers to remove foreign alien terrorists from U.S. soil and repel a declared invasion.”
While Gill said in a post on X that the judge “is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office,” it is highly unlikely that the impeachment resolution results in that outcome.
Even if it was brought for a vote in the House and passed by the narrow House majority, conviction in the Senate would require support from more than a dozen Democrats.
Still, Trump on Tuesday specifically called for Boasberg’s impeachment.
“This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!! WE DON’T WANT VICIOUS, VIOLENT, AND DEMENTED CRIMINALS, MANY OF THEM DERANGED MURDERERS, IN OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The rare public statement from Roberts was an apparent response to Trump and other calls for the impeachment of judges.
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose,” Roberts said.
Gill’s impeachment articles are part of a wave of impeachment articles filed by House Republicans in recent weeks against judges who have blocked Trump administration actions, including those made by the Department of Government Efficiency, leading to tech billionaire Elon Musk calling for a “wave of judicial impeachments.”
Reps. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) are all leading impeachment efforts against other judges.
Topics
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GOP lawmaker pushes to impeach judge over order to halt deportations
Republican Rep. Brandon Gill (Texas) said he would be pushing to impeach the federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to halt deportations of Venezuelan gang members over the weekend. ...The Hill - 1d -
Who Is James Boasberg, the Judge Trump Wants to Impeach Over Deportation Flights?
President Trump has called for Judge Boasberg to be impeached after he ruled against the administration over the president’s efforts to use a law from 1798 to speed deportations.The New York Times - 4h -
Trump calls for impeachment of judge who blocked Alien Enemies Act deportations
In a social media post, President Trump called for the impeachment of a federal judge who ordered the halting of deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. NBC News' Gabe Gutierrez reports on how ...NBC News - 8h -
Chief justice pushes back against calls to impeach judges who rule against Trump
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement Tuesday rebuking President Donald Trump and his allies for calling to impeach judges who have ruled against the administration.NBC News - 7h -
Trump Administration Pushes Back Against Judge’s Orders on Deportations
The attacks on the judge, James E. Boasberg, elicited a rare public rebuke by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who essentially told critics to knock it off.The New York Times - 2h -
Trump calls for impeachment of judge in deportation flight case
President Trump on Tuesday called for the impeachment of a federal judge who directed flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to be turned around in what has become a contentious battle with the ...The Hill - 9h -
How Congress could — but probably won't — impeach a federal judge
The attacks on the judiciary by Donald Trump and his allies have increased in recent days, with calls to impeach a judge who ruled against the president on deportations.NBC News - 5h -
Has the Trump administration violated a court order with deportation of Venezuelan gang members?
Venezuelan gang members were deported from the U.S. under the Trump administration amid a judge issuing a court order against it. NBC News' Danny Cevallos breaks down the legality of the ...NBC News - 1d -
Supreme Court chief justice rebukes Trump over call to impeach judge in deportation case
Trump's demand came a day after Chief Judge James Boasberg grilled a Department of Justice lawyer about deportations of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members.CNBC - 5h
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