WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bandon Gill, R-Flower Mound, introduced articles of impeachment Tuesday against the federal judge who ruled against President Donald Trump’s effort to deport people under an 18th century law.
James E. Boasberg, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, drew criticism from Trump and his allies over an order blocking those deportations.
The United States was being invaded by a Venezuelan gang, Trump said, so he was invoking the law to remove alleged members from the country.
The articles of impeachment accused Boasberg, who presides in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, of committing high crimes and misdemeanors by attempting to seize power from the executive branch and interfere with the will of the American people.
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“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,” according to the articles.
The impeachment articles were introduced about the same time Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement pushing back on calls for impeaching federal judges.
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said. “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”
Roberts’ statement followed strong criticism of Boasberg from Trump in a Tuesday morning social media post. Trump said voters returned him to the White House for many reasons but fighting illegal immigration might have been the top one.
“I’m just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do. This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Gill is a freshman member elected last year to succeed Rep. Michael Burgess after the longtime congressman declined to seek reelection.
Gill finished far ahead of the rest of a crowded primary field that represented competing strains of conservatism.
His campaign focused on his support for securing the border and cracking down on illegal immigration. He prominently featured endorsements from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Trump.
“We will not stand by as radical activist Judge James Boasberg tramples on the Constitution out of political spite for the President,” Gill said in a news release announcing the impeachment articles. “The American people gave us a mandate to get criminal illegal aliens out of our country, and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”
Gill said five cosponsors backed his proposed impeachment articles.
“Judge Boasberg has gravely overstepped his authority, usurping the Constitutional power of the Commander in Chief,” Gill said.
The U.S. House can impeach a federal judge by majority vote. Removing a judge from office requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate where Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage.
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, alluded to the steep hill facing any impeachment effort in a post on X.
“Lots of noise about impeachment. We must study every ruling & act accordingly w/ everything on the table (noting: 14 Dem votes required in Senate.),” Roy said. “But, more fertile ground… 1) House can pass a resolution stating there is/was an invasion, 2) we can defund radical courts.”
Democrats pushed back on the impeachment calls.
The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, said in a news release Trump is lashing out at judges who rule against him.
Just 15 federal judges have been impeached in the country’s history, Raskin said, and only for professional misconduct such as taking bribes, evading taxes and intoxication on the bench.
“My Republican colleagues have filed Articles of Impeachment against judges not for misconduct, not for corruption, but for the crime of upholding the rule of law against Trump’s plainly lawless acts,” Raskin said.
