Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a complaint filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, appointee of former President Barack Obama, for “improper public comments” made about President Donald Trump and the administration.
Why It Matters
Boasberg has been at the center of MAGA fury as he has presided over a case involving the Trump administration’s speedy deportation of migrants through his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
The act is a wartime law granting the commander in chief authority to detain or deport noncitizens. The implementation was blocked in federal court and has thus sparked a contentious legal back-and-forth with Boasberg, a chief judge.
What To Know
According to the Associated Press, Boasberg’s alleged remarks stem from comments he made to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and other federal judges that the Trump administration could trigger a constitutional crisis if they intentionally sidestep rulings.
“Today at my direction, @TheJusticeDept filed a misconduct complaint against U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg for making improper public comments about President Trump and his Administration. These comments have undermined the integrity of the judiciary, and we will not stand for that,” Bondi said on X.
Boasberg’s comments were reportedly made at a meeting of the Judicial Conference, as first reported by The Federalist, citing a memo obtained of the meeting.
According to the AP, Bondi’s complaint calls for Boasberg to be reassigned from the deportation case amid the investigation and possible impeachment if the allegations are substantiated.
Trump previously called Boasberg a “troublemaker and agitator” and floated the suggestion of his impeachment earlier this year, prompting Roberts to issue a rare statement.
“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.
What People Are Saying
Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg to Newsweek via X on Monday night: “It’s unusual but not unheard of. The only judges who seem to be immune from their words and their conduct are Supreme Court Justices.”
Senator Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, on X on Monday: “Rogue Judge Boasberg may ‘discipline’ DOJ for not turning around planes full of terrorists and gangbangers headed to El Salvador. Boasberg was just exposed for being biased against Trump last week. I have new receipts that show he has been a partisan since his confirmation. 🧵”
Chad Mizelle, chief of staff at the DOJ, on X on Monday: “Judge Boasberg first tried to persuade Chief Justice Roberts and other federal judges that the Trump Administration would not follow court orders, despite having no basis for his belief. Then he acted on his baseless belief again and again in litigation over which he was presiding.”
Mizelle added: “Judge Boasberg violated the Canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, including the requirement that he ‘promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.’ Today, at the direction of the Attorney General, DOJ filed a judicial misconduct complaint against him. Federal judges often complain about the decline of public trust in the judiciary. But if the judiciary simply ignores improper conduct like Judge Boasberg’s, it will have itself to blame when the public stops trusting it.”
What Happens Next
The complaint now awaits review by Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and could be referred to a special investigative committee for further examination.
Bigger questions about judicial independence, the limits of executive authority over immigration policy and the standards for disqualification or sanctioning of federal judges may also be shaped by the developments in this closely watched dispute.
Update 7/28/25 11:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and comment from Dave Aronberg.
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