The Department of Justice has filed a formal misconduct complaint against U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg, alleging that he made improper public comments about President Donald J. Trump and acted in a politically biased manner in a high-profile deportation case.
The complaint, reviewed by Fox News, was authored by DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi. It was addressed to Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and requests an official investigation into Boasberg’s conduct.
DOJ Alleges Boasberg Attempted to Influence Other Judges
The 11-page complaint revolves around a March 11, 2025, session of the Judicial Conference of the United States, during which Judge Boasberg allegedly told Chief Justice John Roberts and more than two dozen federal judges that the Trump administration would “disregard rulings of federal courts” and could trigger “a constitutional crisis.”
“Although his comments would be inappropriate even if they had some basis, they were even worse because Judge Boasberg had no basis,” Mizelle wrote. “The Trump Administration has always complied with all court orders. Nor did Judge Boasberg identify any purported violations of court orders to justify his unprecedented predictions.”
The DOJ argues that Boasberg’s comments violated the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges and sought to improperly influence other members of the federal judiciary.
Actions in Migrant Deportation Case Under Scrutiny
The complaint also points to actions Boasberg took in the case J.G.G. v. Trump, where he issued an emergency restraining order on March 15 blocking the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan nationals under the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg ordered planes already en route to El Salvador to return to the United States — a directive the DOJ says exceeded his authority.
“Within days of those statements, Judge Boasberg began acting on his preconceived belief that the Trump Administration would not follow court orders,” the DOJ said. The Supreme Court later vacated Boasberg’s order, and the D.C. Circuit Court stayed his motion to hold the administration in contempt.
Boasberg later ruled in April that there was “probable cause” to hold the administration in contempt for failing to comply with his order. DOJ lawyers, however, have consistently maintained that they would only comply with lawful orders, and indicated they would likely appeal.
DOJ Seeks Boasberg’s Removal from Deportation Case
The Department is asking Chief Judge Srinivasan to refer the matter to a special investigative committee and to remove Boasberg from the deportation case, arguing that his continued oversight risks “further erosion of public confidence while the investigation proceeds.”
This is the second time under Bondi’s leadership that the DOJ has filed a formal complaint against a sitting federal judge. Earlier this year, the department accused Judge Ana Reyes of misconduct in a case involving LGBTQ plaintiffs challenging Trump’s executive orders banning transgender individuals from military service.
Judicial Independence in the Crosshairs
The filing follows intensifying clashes between the Trump administration and federal judges who have issued rulings stalling or blocking several of the president’s executive orders. Judge Boasberg, in particular, has drawn ire from legal professionals, Trump supporters and the president himself, who has previously floated the idea of impeachment.
Boasberg, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002, now finds himself at the epicenter of a legal and political storm. In recent months, he has been overseeing class action litigation brought on behalf of former CECOT detainees deported by the Trump administration to Venezuela after originally being sent to El Salvador.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs have asked Boasberg to reopen discovery, citing new United Nations findings about migrant conditions and the legality of the removal orders.
Broader Implications
The allegations and counter-allegations underscore a deepening rift between the executive branch and the judiciary, with both sides accusing the other of politicizing justice.
If Chief Judge Srinivasan agrees to launch a formal investigation, it would be rare and consequential in the federal judiciary, possibly reshaping the balance of oversight and trust in a judiciary already strained by deep political divides.
Next Steps
The D.C. Circuit has not yet responded publicly to the DOJ’s request. Legal analysts expect that if an investigation is approved, it could take months to complete and could impact ongoing litigation involving the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The stakes are high not only for Judge Boasberg but also for the administration, which continues to face legal headwinds over its second-term agenda.
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Impeach and remove.