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The Trump administration has filed a misconduct complaint against Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The complaint, submitted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), accuses Boasberg of making inappropriate comments during a March meeting of the Judicial Conference of the U.S. with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts present. The DOJ claims Boasberg suggested that the Trump administration might disregard federal court rulings, potentially causing a constitutional crisis.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced the complaint, stated that Boasberg's comments undermined the judiciary's integrity. The complaint also requests Boasberg's removal from a deportation case and a public reprimand. The DOJ argues that Boasberg's remarks violated the "presumption of regularity" typically afforded to the Executive Branch.
Boasberg, an appointee of President Barack Obama, has faced criticism from the Trump administration for his judicial decisions, including blocking the deportation of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador. The Supreme Court later vacated Boasberg's order, stating the Venezuelans should have filed lawsuits in Texas, where they were held before deportation.
The complaint is now with Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, who will oversee the disciplinary proceedings. The Trump administration's actions against Boasberg are part of a broader conflict with the judiciary, with previous complaints filed against other judges.