Chief Justice Roberts Rejects Trump’s Call to Impeach Judge Over Deportation Ruling/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed President Donald Trump’s call to impeach U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ruled against the administration’s mass deportation plan. Roberts defended judicial independence, stating that impeachment is not a response to legal disagreements. Trump, in a Truth Social post, labeled Boasberg a “troublemaker” for blocking deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. His demand escalates tensions between the executive and judiciary, as some House Republicans move to introduce impeachment articles against multiple federal judges.
Roberts Rejects Trump’s Call to Impeach Judge Over Deportation Ruling: Quick Looks
- Supreme Court Stands Firm: Chief Justice John Roberts rebuffed Trump’s demand to impeach Judge James Boasberg, saying impeachment is not a tool for policy disputes.
- Trump’s Response: The president accused Boasberg of blocking his mass deportation efforts and labeled him an unelected agitator in a Truth Social post.
- Legal Controversy: Boasberg had ruled against the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, prompting Trump’s criticism.
- Judicial Independence at Stake: Roberts’ statement emphasized that the courts must remain independent despite political pressure.
- Republican Lawmakers React: Some House Republicans plan to introduce articles of impeachment against Boasberg and other judges for rulings against Trump’s policies.
- Escalating Conflict: Trump has clashed with the judiciary repeatedly, with growing criticism of what he calls “activist judges” obstructing his agenda.
Roberts Pushes Back Against Trump’s Impeachment Demand Over Deportation Ruling
Trump Calls for Impeachment, Roberts Pushes Back
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts rejected President Donald Trump’s demand to impeach U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, reinforcing the judicial branch’s independence in the face of growing political pressure.
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said in a rare statement.
Roberts’ rebuke comes after Trump launched a scathing attack on Boasberg via Truth Social, accusing him of blocking his administration’s efforts to deport undocumented migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Trump’s Attack on Boasberg
“HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING! I WON FOR MANY REASONS, IN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, BUT FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS HISTORIC VICTORY,” Trump wrote. “This judge… should be IMPEACHED!!!”
Boasberg, an Obama-appointed judge, had blocked the deportation of Venezuelan migrants alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang, citing concerns about due process. The Trump administration argues that his ruling defies presidential authority to act in times of national security crises.
Growing Conflict Between Trump and the Courts
- House Republicans are considering articles of impeachment against Boasberg and two other judges, Amir Ali and Paul Engelmayer, who ruled against Trump’s policies.
- The administration claims the Alien Enemies Act grants sweeping deportation powers, while opponents argue that its use outside a declared war is unconstitutional.
- Boasberg convened a hearing on Monday to examine whether the administration ignored his court order when two flights deporting migrants continued to El Salvador despite his ruling.
Legal Experts Defend Judicial Independence
“What we are seeing is an attempt by one branch of government to intimidate another branch from performing its constitutional duty,” said Marin Levy, a Duke University law professor.
Trump has repeatedly attacked judges who ruled against his administration, a pattern that critics say undermines trust in the legal system.
Impeachment of Judges: A Rare Move
Impeaching a federal judge is extremely rare.
- Only 15 judges have ever been impeached in U.S. history.
- The last impeachment occurred in 2010, when Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. was removed for bribery and perjury.
- The Constitution requires a simple majority in the House to impeach a judge but a two-thirds Senate vote to remove them.
With Democrats controlling the Senate, any effort to remove Boasberg faces an uphill battle.
What’s Next?
Despite Trump’s demands, Roberts’ statement indicates that judicial independence remains intact. However, the House Republican push for judicial impeachments could further escalate tensions between the courts and the White House.
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