Judge Faces Ethics Lawsuit Over Allegations of Bias Against Trump

Judge James Boasberg, who was appointed by President Obama to be Chief Judge of the District Court in Washington, D.C., is now entangled in an ethics lawsuit. This suit accuses him of having a “political bias” against former President Donald Trump and his administration.

In 2023, Boasberg approved a confidentiality order that allegedly kept over a dozen Republican senators in the dark about the Department of Justice’s actions in obtaining cell phone records without their knowledge, based on documents released by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley.

The ethics complaint, filed by the Center for the Advancement of American Security (CASA), asserts that Boasberg has facilitated what is viewed as one of the significant scandals in American history. It claims that using the DOJ to monitor political rivals infringes not only on those under investigation but also on the rights of American citizens who are left unaware of the circumstances surrounding this investigation.

Special Counsel Jack Smith has also sought phone records from congressional members as part of the ongoing “Arctic Frost” investigation, which is related to the lawsuit concerning the 2020 election against Trump. He requested detailed records—including calls, texts, and voicemails—from January 4 to January 7, 2021.

While Verizon complied with Smith’s subpoena, AT&T opted not to pursue it after questioning its legal foundation.

CASA Director James Fitzpatrick has raised concerns that Boasberg’s approval of this confidentiality order could potentially be unconstitutional. He emphasized the need for an immediate investigation into Boasberg’s conduct, suggesting that any proven violation of judicial norms should result in disciplinary action to safeguard the judiciary’s integrity and independence.

Texas Congressman Brandon Gill has taken steps to address the situation, filing impeachment charges against Boasberg. His article of impeachment claims that the judge broke federal law by preventing Senate offices from being informed of legal actions requiring the disclosure of Senate data.

The impeachment article states, “Chief Justice Boasberg has shown a blatant disregard for the law, proving his unfitness to serve by engaging in legal actions that contravene federal law.”

Previously, Gill lodged additional impeachment articles in March concerning Boasberg’s decision to order the return of a plane with alleged gang members to El Salvador. The Department of Justice also filed an ethics complaint, alleging that Boasberg made “inappropriate” remarks at a judicial conference.

CASA’s complaint also points out Boasberg’s statements during a U.S. Judicial Conference where he expressed worries that the administration might disregard federal court rulings, potentially leading to a constitutional crisis. At that time, Trump and his administration were already facing numerous federal lawsuits, including one in D.C., and had complied with all court orders up to that point.