Judicial Independence Under Fire Amid Trump’s Call for Impeachment
In a remarkable confrontation between two branches of the U.S. government, Chief Justice John Roberts of the Supreme Court has firmly rejected suggestions to impeach federal judges. This comes in response to President Donald Trump’s demand for the removal of a judge who ruled against his deportation policy.
Roberts emphasized the longstanding tradition that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreements over judicial decisions, stating, “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.” His statement arrives after Trump publicly criticized U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, describing him as an unelected “troublemaker and agitator.” Judge Boasberg had recently blocked deportation flights that Trump sought to implement using a wartime statute from the 18th century.
Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, expressed frustration over the decision, insisting his electoral victory was partly due to his stance on illegal immigration. He argued that voters supported his actions and suggested that Boasberg should face impeachment, intensifying his ongoing conflict with the judiciary.
Historically, impeachment is reserved for instances of severe misconduct, but Trump’s call represents a growing clash between the executive and judicial branches. His administration has frequently criticized judges, especially those curbing his efforts to expand executive power and implement broad policies.
The Alien Enemies Act of 1798, seldom used in U.S. history, was invoked by Trump, asserting an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. His administration is financially supporting El Salvador to detain alleged gang members.
Judge Boasberg, appointed by former President Barack Obama, held a hearing to address what he termed as “possible defiance” of his order after deportation flights to El Salvador persisted. The Trump administration, defending its actions, claimed the written order lacked clarity, while the American Civil Liberties Union warned of an impending constitutional crisis.
The House of Representatives, currently under a slim Republican majority, holds the authority to impeach a judge with a simple majority. However, the Senate requires a two-thirds majority to finalize such a removal, akin to presidential impeachment proceedings.
Trump’s stance aligns with allies like Elon Musk, who have made similar demands. Duke University’s law professor Marin Levy described the situation as a direct threat to judicial independence, highlighting the tension between government branches.
Despite White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s previous statement denying any presidential intent to impeach judges, the number of such calls is increasing amidst judicial pushbacks on Trump’s agenda. Some members of Congress are considering introducing impeachment articles against Judge Boasberg, while House Republicans have already filed against other judges involved in Trump-related cases.
In the history of the United States, only 15 judges have been impeached, with eight removed. The most recent case was in 2010, involving G. Thomas Porteous Jr., who was removed for accepting bribes.
Leavitt, along with two other officials, faces a lawsuit from The Associated Press, claiming constitutional violations. The conflict arises over the White House’s insistence on referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, which the AP opposes.
Associated Press writer Mark Sherman contributed to this report.
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