The White House is adopting a strategy reminiscent of former President Donald Trump's approach when dealing with judges who prioritize the law over political interests: targeting their families. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took aim at U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg and his wife, labeling them as liberal activists who are allegedly attempting to undermine President Trump's immigration policies.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt publicly criticized Judge Boasberg, stating, “Judge Boasberg is a Democrat activist. He was appointed by Barack Obama, and his wife has donated over $10,000 to Democrats. He has consistently demonstrated his disdain for this president and his policies, which is simply unacceptable.” This statement reflects a broader trend of politicizing judicial authority when rulings do not align with the administration's objectives.
Leavitt further emphasized the implications of Boasberg's rulings, suggesting that the judge was contesting President Trump’s executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from U.S. soil. “The judge in this case is essentially trying to say that the president doesn’t have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil,” she asserted, highlighting the tension between the White House and the judiciary.
Despite the administration's claims, there has been no evidence provided regarding the identities or the alleged terrorist affiliations of the Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvador over the weekend without due process. Judge Boasberg was initially appointed to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by former President George W. Bush and later elevated to the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., by former President Barack Obama. His confirmation in 2011 was notable, passing the Senate with a unanimous 96-0 vote.
Boasberg has faced backlash from the Trump administration after he issued an order preventing the deportation of two planes filled with Venezuelan migrants, whom the White House claimed were members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Despite this order, the administration proceeded to send the migrants to El Salvador, asserting its authority under the Alien Enemies Act. The El Salvadorian government, known for its sympathetic stance towards the Trump administration, has been criticized for systemic human rights violations amid its crackdown on gang-related violence.
In response to the administration's actions, Boasberg expressed concerns regarding the timing of the flight's departure and whether the Trump administration had willfully disregarded his order. On Wednesday, he granted the government a 24-hour extension to provide an official timeline detailing the flights' locations, takeoffs, and landings, questioning the government's arguments for the delay, which he deemed “not persuasive at first blush.”
In a related development, former President Trump vehemently criticized Boasberg on social media, referring to him as a “Radical Left Lunatic” and calling for his impeachment. “We don’t want vicious, violent, and demented criminals, many of them deranged murderers, in our country,” Trump added, reinforcing his administration's hardline stance on immigration and crime.
Following Trump's comments, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg, claiming that the judge’s order “jeopardizes the safety of the nation” and accusing him of abusing his judicial authority to interfere with the executive branch's will.
In a rare public response, Chief Justice John Roberts of the Supreme Court issued a rebuke regarding Trump's impeachment call, stating, “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.” This statement underscores the judicial independence that has been a hallmark of the American legal system.
