House GOP Targets Judge Over Trump Deportation Flight Halt

Breaking News: A House Republican has officially filed impeachment articles against federal Judge James Boasberg, accusing him of overstepping his authority by blocking deportation flights under the Trump administration. These flights were aimed at removing members of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime measure dating back to 1798.

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, minced no words in his criticism of Boasberg, calling him a "rogue activist judge" who jeopardized national safety and abused judicial power. Gill’s resolution alleges that Boasberg forced planes carrying deportees to turn around midair, effectively halting the administration’s plans to act on what Gill described as a voter mandate.

The stakes are high: this fiery legal drama pits executive power against judicial authority. Boasberg’s emergency restraining order, issued Saturday night, followed concerns from human rights groups that Venezuelan nationals with legitimate asylum claims might be unfairly swept up in deportations. The judge's move has sparked outrage among Trump allies, including Gill, who called the action unconstitutional and a blatant usurpation of executive power.

Gill is pushing for a traditional route for the impeachment process, starting with the House Judiciary Committee. "I'll be talking to [Chairman Jim Jordan] about it," Gill told reporters. "I think the best way to do this is to go through the judiciary committee, which is where impeachment of judges runs through."

Former President Donald Trump has also weighed in, unsurprisingly with his characteristic flair. On Truth Social, he lambasted Boasberg as a "Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge" and called his actions a direct affront to Trump's "historic victory" in combating illegal immigration. Trump didn’t hold back: "This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!"

The Trump administration argues that the judge's written order was issued too late to affect two planes already in the air. Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, clarified that the administration complied with court orders, adding that a third plane took off without deportees under the Alien Enemies Act.

Boasberg, however, countered in court, questioning whether his equitable powers applied to planes already in international airspace. This legal exchange has set the stage for what could be a showdown in the Supreme Court, raising broader questions about the limits of lower federal judges' authority.

The impeachment push against Boasberg is part of a larger trend among Trump allies. Similar threats have been made against other judges seen as obstructing Trump-era policies, including Judge Paul Engelmayer, who blocked initiatives from the Department of Government Efficiency.

As the legal and political standoff continues, one thing is clear: this battle over the balance of power between the judicial and executive branches is far from over. Stay tuned.