Texas Republican Representative Brandon Gill filed articles of impeachment Tuesday against a federal judge who blocked deportation flights to El Salvador over the weekend.
Gill, a newly-elected Congressman, said Judge James Boasberg was a “radical activist” in a post sharing the filing on X, formerly Twitter.
Why It Matters
Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social demanding the U.S. District Judge be impeached, prompting Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to rebuke the president for making such a demand when appellate review processes exist.
Brandon Gill (R-Tex.) poses for a portrait on the steps of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on November 15, 2024. Brandon Gill (R-Tex.) poses for a portrait on the steps of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on November 15, 2024. Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO via AP Images
What To Know
Judge Boasberg caused outrage from the Trump administration over the weekend, when he temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from using an 18th-century wartime law—the Alien Enemies Act—to accelerate the deportation of Venezuelan gang members without the usual court process.
Trump said the move was necessary to remove members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, but a preemptive lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Democracy Forward sought to stop five Venezuelans from being removed from the U.S. on the grounds that they had been falsely labeled as gang members.
The administration has argued that it had enough evidence, and there was enough of a national security risk, to remove dozens of immigrants quickly, but the judge ordered removal flights be halted for at least 14 days, stating that the Alien Enemies Act had only been used during wartime previously and that the President may be overstepping his legal authority.
Boasberg’s skepticism of the White House’s arguments has sparked criticism from Trump himself, his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, and Elon Musk. While Justice Roberts said impeachment or removal was not the way forward, and that there were well-established processes in place to appeal a decision, Gill filed a motion.
“He is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office,” the Congressman said on X.
The documents, shared by Gill on his X profile, allege the judge used his position “to advance political gain” while interfering with the president’s powers.
What People Are Saying
Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, in a statement Monday: “Every American should also be concerned that the Trump administration has been flagrantly claiming it does not have to abide by the district court orders it doesn’t agree with. The president is bound by the laws of this nation and we will continue to show up in the courts to ensure this lawless administration is held accountable.”
President Trump, in a Truth Social post: “This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President.”
Justice Roberts said in a statement Tuesday: “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.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X on Saturday: “A single judge in a single city cannot direct the movements of an aircraft carrying foreign alien terrorists who were physically expelled from U.S. soil.”
What’s Next
Gill’s filing will need to go before the House Judiciary Committee for review, which may prompt an investigation and hearings into the judge’s alleged actions.
