Surviving The Smear Campaign: Emil Bove Shines At Confirmation

Last week, Emil Bove testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of his confirmation process to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The Article III Project strongly supports Bove’s nomination. His outstanding qualifications speak for themselves, and he ably defended his record at the hearing. Unfortunately, committee Democrats launched a series of politically motivated attacks, attempting to paint Bove as combative, disrespectful, and indifferent to judicial authority. These claims were unfounded, and Bove effectively dismantled them with clarity and composure.

The most serious accusation leveled against Bove stems from a complaint by former Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney Erez Reuveni. He alleged that during a March meeting regarding the case Trump v. J.G.G., Bove advocated ignoring court orders. That claim simply doesn’t hold up. The case involved deportation efforts by the Trump administration targeting members of the violent Tren de Aragua terrorist group. In response, D.C. District Judge James Boasberg issued an order halting certain deportations and, later, found probable cause to hold the administration in contempt. However, the D.C. Circuit stayed that ruling more than two months ago, casting serious doubt on the legal footing and urgency of Boasberg’s hasty decision.

At the time of the meeting in question, no such order had been issued. Even Reuveni admitted that the Department of Homeland Security and DOJ ultimately made clear to the courts that all directives would be followed. In fact, Reuveni himself signed a March 25 court filing affirming that the government had complied with every court order. That alone undercuts his credibility. His accusation rests solely on his own word, unsupported by documentation or corroboration. Given Reuveni’s conduct, including violating attorney-client privilege in court, his judgment should be scrutinized, not accepted at face value.

During a court appearance, Reuveni disclosed that the government had not followed his recommendation and suggested his client had not given him a satisfactory answer, both clear breaches of attorney-client privilege. Despite what Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., claimed during the hearing, that fundamental legal protection and privilege belongs to the client, not the attorney.

Reuveni seemed to believe that as a career DOJ official, he should shape policy, regardless of directives from political leadership. But that is not how the department functions. Elected and appointed officials, such as President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and their deputies like Bove, set policy. Reuveni’s refusal to accept this reality justifies his removal.

Bove’s Temperament

Democrats also attacked Bove’s temperament, largely relying on anonymous complaints. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., quoted from an email written by David Patton, then with the Federal Defender’s Office, criticizing Bove’s demeanor during his time as a federal prosecutor. But Patton is far from an impartial voice. He now works at Hecker Fink, the firm that represented E. Jean Carroll in her civil lawsuit against President Donald Trump. Patton has publicly opposed executive orders aimed at curbing illegal hiring practices tied to DEI initiatives. In 2023, he represented a client suing Trump and his business empire in New York. It’s clear he is not a neutral party, and his views on Bove should be viewed through that lens.

In contrast, Bove’s actual record reveals a dedicated public servant. After the horrific attack on Judge Esther Salas’ family, where her son was murdered and her husband seriously wounded, Bove immediately offered resources from the Southern District of New York to help apprehend the killer. He also played a central role in the extradition of drug cartel leader Rafael Caro Quintero, who orchestrated the brutal torture and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique Camarena in 1985. Bove personally contacted Camarena’s family to inform them of the long-awaited extradition, demonstrating his compassion and sense of duty.

New Jersey Ties

Sen. Booker further objected to Bove’s nomination on the grounds that he lacks sufficient ties to New Jersey. This is a weak argument. Bove is a member of the New Jersey Bar and previously worked for a firm led by former New Jersey Sen. Jeffrey Chiesa. More importantly, he has taken action to protect New Jersey residents, including Booker himself. In 2018, extremist Cesar Sayoc mailed bombs to several officials, including Booker. Bove was instrumental in Sayoc’s successful prosecution. Likewise, Bove successfully prosecuted Ahmad Rahimi, who carried out bombings in New York and New Jersey and nearly caused mass casualties at a Marine Corps charity race. Had the race started on time, the attack could have mirrored the Boston Marathon bombing. Rahimi also targeted a New Jersey Transit station.

Booker’s real issue with Bove isn’t his residency — it’s his ideology. Were Bove nominated to a seat on the Second Circuit, Booker would likely oppose him just as vehemently. The criticism over New Jersey ties is a smokescreen for ideological opposition.

Bove is exactly the kind of principled, intelligent, and tough-minded nominee President Trump seeks to elevate to the federal bench. Efforts to derail his nomination, whether from the left or from risk-averse elements of the right, should be firmly rejected. The Senate must rise above the political noise and confirm Bove, a nominee with both the credentials and the character to serve with distinction on the Third Circuit.

Mike Davis is the founder and president of the Article III Project.