{"id":2511590,"date":"2025-11-17T16:58:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T21:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-ask-dc-circuit-to-suspend-boasberg-pending-impeachment-vote\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T17:01:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T22:01:11","slug":"senators-ask-dc-circuit-to-suspend-boasberg-pending-impeachment-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-ask-dc-circuit-to-suspend-boasberg-pending-impeachment-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"Senators ask DC Circuit to suspend Boasberg pending impeachment vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenators-ask-dc-circuit-to-suspend-boasberg-pending-impeachment-vote%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2511590&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A group of Senate Republicans, led by Senator Eric Schmitt, has formally requested the suspension of Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia while the House of Representatives considers impeaching him. The senators argue that Boasberg&#8217;s actions in handling cases related to the FBI&#8217;s investigation into trump-related matters, including authorizing nondisclosure orders for phone records of lawmakers and other entities, have undermined public trust in the judiciary. They base their request on impeachment articles filed against Boasberg by Representative Brandon Gill, which accuse the judge of improperly permitting secrecy orders during the &#8220;Arctic Frost&#8221; investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith. The senators also highlight prior court rebukes and a judicial misconduct complaint against Boasberg.They urge D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan to take prompt administrative action, including suspending Boasberg and removing him from the Circuit Judicial Council during the ongoing impeachment and misconduct reviews.The move is historically significant as impeachment of federal judges is rare and politically sensitive.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senators ask chief judge on DC Circuit to suspend James Boasberg pending House impeachment vote<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2184242\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash;<\/strong> A group of<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-republicans\/\"> Senate Republicans<\/a> led by Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/sen-eric-schmitt\/\">Eric Schmitt<\/a> (R-MO) is pressing the federal judiciary to sideline Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia while the House of Representatives considers whether to impeach him.<\/p>\n<p>The Republicans argue in a new letter that his handling of matters involving the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\">FBI<\/a>&lsquo;s pursuit of lawmakers&rsquo; phone records and other Trump-related matters has &ldquo;undermined confidence&rdquo; in the courts and requires immediate intervention.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3889445\/ted-cruz-downplays-report-setting-up-2028-white-house-run\/\">Cruz downplays report he is setting up 2028 White House run<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3889073\/byron-york-suggests-government-shutdown-left-democratic-party-civil-war\/\">Byron York suggests government shutdown left Democratic Party in &#8216;civil war&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3888756\/tim-kaine-criticism-democrats-shutdown-vote\/\">Kaine dismisses criticism from Democrats on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mccarthy-hammers-bowman-for-pulling-fire-alarm-this-should-not-go-without-punishment\/\" title=\"McCarthy slams Bowman over fire alarm incident: &#039;Punishment is necessary&#039;.\">shutdown vote<\/a>, says he&#8217;s getting &lsquo;great feedback&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a letter sent Monday to D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, Sens. Schmitt, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\">Mike Lee<\/a> (R-UT), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tommy-tuberville\/\">Tommy Tuberville<\/a> (R-AL), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\">Lindsey Graham<\/a> (R-SC), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kevin-cramer\/\">Kevin Cramer<\/a> (R-ND), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) urged the circuit judicial council to place Boasberg on administrative suspension. They told Srinivasan that the chief district judge &ldquo;should be <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >administratively suspended pending formal impeachment<\/a> by the House of Representatives and, if impeached, an impeachment trial by the Senate.&rdquo; Removal would require a two-thirds vote in the upper chamber.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Judge James Boasberg and President Donald Trump (dcd.uscourts.gov \/ AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The group of senators grounded the request in the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/gill.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/rep-gill-files-impeachment-articles-against-judge-boasberg-following-arctic\">impeachment articles lodged on Nov. 4<\/a>&nbsp;by Rep.&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/rep-brandon-gill\/\">Brandon Gill<\/a>&nbsp;(R-TX), who accused Boasberg of improperly authorizing nondisclosure orders to cellular companies, including AT&amp;T and Verizon, and other Big Tech companies, including Apple and Meta, as part of the Biden administration FBI&rsquo;s &ldquo;Arctic Frost&rdquo; investigation.<\/p>\n<p>To date, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/press\/rep\/releases\/grassley-johnson-press-for-full-disclosure-of-jack-smith-subpoenas\">has uncovered that at least 13 members of Congress<\/a>&nbsp;were targeted by Biden-era subpoenas from investigative efforts that preceded two federal indictments against President Donald Trump, thanks to the help of whistleblowers and records handed to him by the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>The letter cites allegations that Boasberg granted former special counsel Jack Smith authorization to &ldquo;issue frivolous nondisclosure orders in furtherance of &hellip; Arctic Frost,&rdquo; blocking lawmakers and others from learning that Smith had obtained their phone and communications records. The senators told Srinivasan that his own court &ldquo;adopted a similar sentiment&rdquo; in&nbsp;<em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/media.cadc.uscourts.gov\/opinions\/docs\/2025\/07\/24-5089-2126121.pdf\">In re: Sealed Case<\/a><\/em>, when it reversed Boasberg for erring &ldquo;by too permissively granting government-requested nondisclosure orders against X Corp.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Their letter labels &ldquo;Arctic Frost&rdquo; only the first of several concerns. It highlights a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> rebuke in&nbsp;<em>Trump v J.G.G.<\/em>, in which a majority of the justices concluded that Boasberg <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3375141\/supreme-court-corrects-lower-court-overreach\/\">&ldquo;lacked jurisdiction&rdquo;<\/a> to preside over a suit he assigned to himself on March 15 involving the deportation flights of Venezuelan gang members. It also references a misconduct complaint filed this summer alleging that Boasberg used a Judicial Conference meeting to raise &ldquo;a wholly unsolicited discussion&rdquo; about fears the administration might <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/memo-reveals-d-c-judges-predisposed-against-trump-admin\/\" title=\"Memo Reveals D.C. ...s Predisposed Against Trump Admin\">disregard federal court rulings<\/a>. The senators wrote that, taken together, these episodes reflect a &ldquo;pattern&rdquo; that warrants immediate action while impeachment moves forward.<\/p>\n<p>The lawmakers pressed Srinivasan to detail how he is handling the formal judicial misconduct complaint filed by the Justice Department on July 28. That complaint was submitted under 28 United States Code &sect; 351 and triggers statutory duties for the chief judge to act &ldquo;expeditiously.&rdquo; The senators write that Srinivasan must either take &ldquo;appropriate corrective action&rdquo; or dismiss the matter in writing under &sect; 352. They told him they &ldquo;assume&rdquo; he has already moved into &sect; 353 territory, which requires a special committee investigation, because he has issued no public order.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To that end, please submit the following in writing,&rdquo; the senators wrote, requesting a full status update, any communications with Boasberg, any records created during the review, and a written explanation if no action has been taken.<\/p>\n<p>If a special committee is established, the senators asked that Srinivasan &ldquo;place Boasberg on administrative suspension and remove him from the Circuit Judicial Council&rdquo; until both the misconduct inquiry and House impeachment process conclude. They also asked for an explanation &ldquo;for why you are yet to place him on administrative suspension and have allowed him to remain on the Circuit Judicial Council while these claims have been pending.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The senators cite precedent for such a move. Former Louisiana federal judge G. Thomas Porteous, who died in 2021, was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/guides.loc.gov\/federal-impeachment\/thomas-porteous\">administratively suspended<\/a> during an impeachment inquiry while the Judicial Conference probed allegations of bribery and fraud.<\/p>\n<p>Boasberg has long been a point of conflict between Republican administrations and the federal judiciary. In March, he issued a nationwide injunction blocking Trump&rsquo;s plan to deport alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang. Trump called for his impeachment after that ruling and argued that the judge had jeopardized public safety.<\/p>\n<p>Boasberg has presided over several cases touching on Trump or his inner circle. In 2023, he ordered former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-pence\/\">Mike Pence<\/a> to testify before a grand jury about his interactions with Trump in the final days before the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. In the case of former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/fbi-lawyer-probation-role-carter-page-surveillance\/story?id=75569202\">Boasberg offered him probation rather than jail time<\/a> in January 2021, when he pleaded guilty to forging an email used as evidence to surveil 2016 Trump campaign official Carter Page.<\/p>\n<p>The push to suspend him comes after weeks of escalating disclosures about &ldquo;Arctic Frost.&rdquo; Lawmakers have expressed outrage after the release of FBI files revealing that Smith&rsquo;s team issued <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3868459\/bidens-watergate-jack-smith-sought-197-subpoenas-in-arctic-frost-investigation\/\">197 subpoenas targeting<\/a> more than 430 Republican figures, organizations, and donors. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), whose phone metadata was among the records sought, has accused Boasberg of &ldquo;abusing his power&rdquo; by finding without evidence that GOP senators may destroy records if notified of the subpoenas.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3868459\/bidens-watergate-jack-smith-sought-197-subpoenas-in-arctic-frost-investigation\/\">&lsquo;BIDEN&rsquo;S WATERGATE&rsquo;: JACK SMITH SOUGHT 197 SUBPOENAS IN ARCTIC FROST INVESTIGATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Impeachment of a federal judge remains rare and politically fraught. Fifteen judges have been impeached in American history, and even fewer have been convicted and removed. Republican leaders have historically shown reluctance to pursue judicial impeachment even when criticizing individual rulings. Chief Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-roberts\/\">John Roberts<\/a> on the Supreme Court has also cautioned that impeachment is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3351272\/chief-justice-roberts-impeachment-not-appropriate-judges-ruling-against-trump\/\">&ldquo;not an appropriate response&rdquo;<\/a> to disagreements over judicial decisions.<\/p>\n<p>The senators told Srinivasan that Boasberg&rsquo;s position demands a fuller accounting. &ldquo;While this impeachment process proceeds,&rdquo; they wrote, &ldquo;we must have transparency regarding the actions the Circuit Judicial Council is taking against the judicial misconduct of Chief Judge Boasberg.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/950470762\/11-17-2025-Letter-to-Chief-Judge-Srinivasan-SIGNED\"><strong>READ THE FULL LETTER TO CHIEF JUDGE SRI SRINIVASAN<\/strong>:<\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"scribd_iframe_embed\" title=\"11.17.2025 Letter to Chief Judge Srinivasan SIGNED\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/embeds\/950470762\/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;access_key=key-km004G2NP6Y7oFFO5pYX\" tabindex=\"0\" data-auto-height=\"true\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.7729220222793488\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"100%\" height=\"600\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; display: block;\"> <a title=\"View 11.17.2025 Letter to Chief Judge Srinivasan SIGNED on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/950470762\/11-17-2025-Letter-to-Chief-Judge-Srinivasan-SIGNED#from_embed\" style=\"color: #098642; text-decoration: underline;\">  11.17.2025 Letter to Chief Judge Srinivasan SIGNED <\/a> by <a title=\"View reportoftheday's profile on Scribd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/user\/697301857\/reportoftheday#from_embed\" style=\"color: #098642; text-decoration: underline;\"> reportoftheday <\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senators urge DC Circuit chief judge to suspend Boasberg during impeachment review<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2511592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25079589477125.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[52306,55408,3636,3709,53182],"class_list":["post-2511590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-boasberg","tag-dc-circuit","tag-impeachment","tag-senators","tag-suspension-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25079589477125.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2511590"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511590\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2511595,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511590\/revisions\/2511595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2511592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2511590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2511590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2511590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}