In a rare move, Chief Justice John Roberts took to the public stage to issue a pointed critique of President Donald Trump’s recent statements regarding the impeachment of a federal judge.
This response comes after Trump expressed outrage on Truth Social about Judge James E. Boasberg’s decision to block the deportation of Venezuelan gang members who are illegally residing in the U.S.
Roberts countered Trump’s remarks by firmly stating, “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”
His comments signaled a clear defense of the judicial system’s integrity and underscored the proper channels for challenging judicial rulings, which he emphasized should be through the standard appellate process.
Trump, however, didn’t hold back in his tirade against Judge Boasberg, branding him as a “Radical Left Lunatic” and accusing him of being an “agitator” appointed by former President Obama.
In his statement, Trump boasted about his own electoral victory and declared, “I’m just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do,” while calling for Boasberg’s impeachment.
His comments came shortly after Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order that halted the deportation of alleged gang members, stating that the deportees were linked to a dangerous criminal organization.
In a twist of legal debates, the administration argued that Boasberg’s ruling was moot as the deportation flights had already crossed into international waters.
Alongside Trump’s push for impeachment, Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill from Texas introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg, labeling his actions as “guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Roberts isn’t a newcomer to publicly rebuffing Trump either; he previously made headlines in 2018 when he asserted, “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges.”
The tension between the executive and judicial branches is now hotter than ever, especially as the debate heats up surrounding Trump’s interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law which he invoked to justify the deportations.
During a recent CNN appearance, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller defended this invocation, arguing it was necessary due to the perceived threat from criminal gangs linked to the Venezuelan government.
Miller insisted that a federal judge shouldn’t restrain the president’s authority to protect the nation from what he described as an invasion.
For context, the Alien Enemies Act has seen limited use throughout U.S. history, primarily during wartime when national security is at stake.
On the deportation front, recent reports indicate that 261 individuals were sent to El Salvador, including a mixture of Venezuelans and MS-13 gang members.
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