Reporter’s Notebook: Impeachapalooza is here to stay

In a surprising turn of events, House Republicans are not only looking to impeach former President Joe Biden, but also federal judges who they believe have overstepped their bounds. Former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached last year, and now attention has turned to former FBI Director Christopher Wray, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

However, the focus has shifted to federal judges, with President Donald Trump leading the charge against D.C. Circuit Court Judge James Boasberg. Boasberg ordered a halt to the deportation of Venezuelan gang members, prompting Trump to call for his impeachment on social media. Elon Musk has also joined the fray, advocating for the removal of judges whose rulings go against the administration’s policies.

Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill has introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg, accusing him of \”high crimes and misdemeanors\” and of substituting his own judgment for that of the elected President of the United States. Three other federal judges could also face impeachment proceedings in the House.

Impeachment of federal judges follows a similar process to that of presidents or cabinet secretaries, with the House having only impeached four federal judges in the past 36 years. The most recent impeachments were in 2009 for Judge Thomas Porteous and former Judge Samuel Kent.

The House GOP leaders are wary of the possibility of impeachment proceedings, as it could tie up valuable time and resources. However, President Trump supports a bill introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa that would limit the scope of rulings by U.S. district judges. Issa characterizes impeachment as a tool that should only be used in cases of criminality or malfeasance in office.

The controversy over rulings of federal judges and President Trump’s executive orders shows no signs of abating, with around 50 injunctions issued by federal courts halting various administrative moves by the President. The focus on impeachment of federal judges is expected to continue in the 119th Congress, with \”impeachapalooza\” becoming a prominent feature of the political landscape.