Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed strong criticism of Judge James Boasberg on Tuesday, claiming that the Obama-appointed judge is unfairly targeting Justice Department attorneys. This remark followed the D.C. Circuit Court reprimanding Boasberg for the second time regarding an ongoing immigration case.
Blanche stated, “Today’s ruling from the D.C. Circuit signifies the end of Judge Boasberg’s prolonged campaign against dedicated department lawyers who are working to tackle illegal immigration.” His comments gained traction especially after a 2-1 ruling from the federal appeals court blocked Boasberg’s investigation into potential contempt of Trump officials, leading to increased scrutiny on the judge.
Boasberg has faced backlash from Republicans and conservative legal scholars who argue he is obstructing Trump’s agenda. A law professor at George Mason University remarked, “It’s just another reversal for Judge Boasberg.” Meanwhile, Senator Eric Schmidt from Missouri has rekindled calls for Boasberg’s impeachment, although this movement has stalled in the House.
Schmidt emphasized, “The D.C. Circuit concluded that Boasberg’s contempt proceedings were an ‘improper investigation’ and a ‘clear abuse of discretion.'” He accused Boasberg of attempting to imprison Trump officials and called for the House to take action against him.
Boasberg has not only considered potential criminal contempt charges against Trump officials, but he also recently blocked the Justice Department from subpoenaing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The judge argued that the investigation solely aimed to pressure the Fed into lowering interest rates.
Interestingly, the judges who ruled against Boasberg for contempt included two Trump appointees who shared concerns about judicial overreach. They argued that Boasberg’s actions involved overstepping boundaries, particularly regarding national security and foreign affairs.
The lengthy case that has unfolded in Boasberg’s court has led to a series of negative rulings for the Justice Department. There was even a tense courtroom episode where Boasberg grilled Justice Department lawyers about the actions of immigration officials.
Last year, Boasberg had filed a contempt lawsuit against the Trump administration for not adhering to a temporary restraining order related to the reinstatement of Venezuelan immigrants suspected of gang affiliations. It’s worth noting that the Trump administration had opted to expedite deportations by bypassing standard immigration protocols.
As the D.C. Circuit halted the initial contempt investigation, Boasberg initiated a more focused probe after discovering past directive failures attributed to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Following a recent decision, the D.C. Committee closed the investigation, but the ACLU may appeal while litigation continues.
