Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans are urging the US House to impeach two federal judges over rulings they argue were politically motivated and harmful to the Trump administration. The effort targets Washington, DC Chief Judge James “Jeb” Boasberg, who authorized secrecy orders tied to subpoenas in the investigation of efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and Maryland Judge Deborah Boardman, who issued a prison sentence well below prosecutors’ recommendation in a case involving an attempted attack on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
At a GOP-led hearing framed as holding “rogue judges accountable,” Republican senators accused both judges of prioritizing ideology over law. Senator Ted Cruz formally asked House Speaker Mike Johnson to initiate impeachment proceedings, while Democrats countered that impeachment is an improper response to judicial disagreement and warned that such rhetoric fuels threats against judges.
The controversy reflects growing tension between the judiciary and the executive branch, as Donald Trump and senior administration officials have repeatedly criticized judges who block administration policies. Legal experts note that impeachment of judges is extremely rare and historically reserved for corruption or criminal misconduct, not disputed legal decisions.