Johnson’s Support for Judicial Impeachment
House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana expressed his backing on Wednesday for the idea of impeaching judges who oppose President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Though he hasn’t completely ruled it out, his stance comes after House Republican leaders had voiced their disapproval of such actions last year. At that time, the leaders argued that impeachment wouldn’t be a practical solution for what they perceived as judges overstepping their roles to influence policy.
During a weekly press conference, Johnson reflected on his views, labeling impeachment as an “extreme measure.” Still, he added that, “extreme times call for extreme measures.” In his words, “I think some of these judges have gone way beyond the scope of their mandate. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with Congress making laws.”
Cruz Advocates for Impeachment
This conversation arises as a faction of Republicans—both in the House and Senate—are looking to impeach U.S. District Judges James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman. Senator Ted Cruz from Texas categorized both judges as “rogue,” asserting, during a recent Senate Judiciary subcommittee meeting, that they “meet the constitutional standards for impeachment.”
When questioned about these impeachment efforts, Johnson replied, “I’m in favor of it.” He mentioned Boasberg specifically, citing that these instances showcase “gross abuses.”
Boasberg Under Scrutiny
Boasberg has faced criticism from Republicans due to his rulings affecting pivotal immigration cases related to Trump’s policies, such as diverting immigrants to countries like El Salvador instead of detaining them in the U.S.
Recently, he attracted more disapproval when it was disclosed that he signed a warrant that allowed the seizure of phone records from certain Republican Congress members amid the investigation led by former special counsel Jack Smith into Arctic Frost.
Cruz also called for the impeachment of Boardman after a sentencing decision related to a conviction involving an assassination attempt on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Cruz argued that the sentence of 97 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release fell short of what the sentencing guidelines suggested.
While Johnson has not definitively dismissed the prospect of impeachment in the past, he conveyed last year that it seemed impractical.
In a previous statement, he noted that impeachment is a possibility if deemed warranted, but historically, only 15 federal judges have faced impeachment in the country’s history. He acknowledged the challenge, stating, “The hurdle is high crimes and misdemeanors.” Johnson further remarked that historically, severe crimes were necessary to warrant such drastic measures.
