The Department of Justice has filed a misconduct complaint against Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., citing remarks he allegedly made that questioned the Trump administration’s willingness to comply with judicial rulings on immigration.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who filed the complaint, argues that Boasberg’s comments—made during a private Judicial Conference—compromised the appearance of impartiality and judicial independence. The DOJ claims these remarks centered on a hypothetical scenario in which the administration would ignore federal court decisions, triggering what Boasberg described as a potential “constitutional crisis.”
The complaint requests Boasberg’s removal from an ongoing immigration-related case involving deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. It also calls for a formal reprimand and raises the possibility of impeachment referral depending on the outcome of an investigation.
The judge has previously clashed with the administration after ordering the return of deported Venezuelan nationals believed to have gang affiliations. Despite his ruling, deportation flights reportedly continued, raising concerns within the judiciary.
The matter now rests with D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, who is expected to decide whether to initiate a judicial review. The filing marks a significant escalation in tensions between the judiciary and executive branch over immigration enforcement.