Appeals Court Halts Judge Boasberg’s ‘Contempt Crusade,’ Sparks New Impeachment Demands Over Trump Official Dispute

Senator Eric Schmitt, a Republican from Missouri, has urged House Republicans to initiate impeachment proceedings against District Judge James Boasberg. This call to action follows a decision by a federal appeals court that directed Judge Boasberg to terminate his investigation into criminal contempt against officials from the Trump administration.

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Judge Boasberg’s attempts to pursue contempt charges against former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other high-level executive officials constituted a “clear abuse of discretion.” The charges related to their roles in deporting hundreds of suspected members of the Tren De Aragua gang to El Salvador in March. The court described Boasberg’s actions as “intrusive” and “a legal dead end.”

Senator Schmitt took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his stance: “The DC Circuit ruled Boasberg’s contempt crusade against Trump officials is an ‘improper investigation’ and ‘clear abuse of discretion.’” He further criticized Boasberg, stating, “He tried to imprison Trump officials for deporting Venezuelan gang members. I’m calling on the House: Impeach Rogue Judge Boasberg.”

The process for impeaching a federal judge mirrors that of impeaching a president. It would commence with the House launching an impeachment inquiry, likely spearheaded by the House Judiciary Committee, followed by the drafting and voting on articles of impeachment.

The process for impeaching a federal judge is the same as it is for a president. 

The House would launch an impeachment inquiry, likely headed by the House Judiciary Committee, and then draft and vote on articles of impeachment. 

If the House passes the articles of impeachment, the Senate would handle the impeachment trial and vote to convict or acquit the judge. 

It’s unlikely the Senate would be able to muster the two-thirds majority necessary to convict Boasberg, in the event he’s impeached. 

In a separate post, Schmitt argued that Boasberg “forced himself onto” the case last March involving President Trump’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal Venezuelan migrants with alleged gang ties “just a few days after trying to foment a constitutional crisis at a Judicial Conference meeting.”

The senator was referring to comments the Obama-appointed judge allegedly made during a March 11 judicial conference attended by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and other jurists.  

“While there, Judge Boasberg attempted to improperly influence Chief Justice Roberts and roughly two dozen other federal judges by straying from the traditional topics to express his belief that the Trump Administration would ‘disregard rulings of federal courts’ and trigger ‘a constitutional crisis,’” then-Justice Department official Chad Mizelle wrote in a misconduct complaint filed last July with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. 

Trump has previously slammed Boasberg as a “Grandstander” and “highly conflicted,” “radical left” judge who is attempting to “usurp” his presidential power. 

“This judge … should be IMPEACHED!!!” the president fumed in March 18, 2025, Truth Social post. 

A spokesperson for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment. 

“Everything’s on the table,” Jordan has previously remarked in response to questions about impeaching Boasberg. 

“We’re going to look at everything … all the tools that we have to let some of these judges know that the president and Congress are separate but equal branches of government,” Jordan has said, according to Courthouse News Service.