Ex-federal judge flags 'frightening part' about Trump’s impeachment threats

As President Donald Trump's executive actions continue to get shot down by federal judges, he's since retaliated by stoking calls for impeachment. Now, some former federal judges are condemning his rhetoric.

Politico reported Thursday that the threats from the Trump administration have now prompted multiple veteran jurists to speak out against his push to impeach judges who have struck down his policies. This week, Trump and his biggest supporters have railed against both U.S. District Judge James Boasberg — who ordered two deportation flights be turned around in response to Trump invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who publicly rebuked Trump over his call to impeach Boasberg.

Nancy Gertner, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, said Trump's impeachment threats are "nothing short of horrifying."

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"The distance between what we impeach for and what he’s accusing these judges for is enormous … It’s preposterous," Gertner said. "He could have done all of these cases normally and, you know, respectfully, and is likely to have won in some cases, but he doesn’t want to do it that way. He wants to prove his power. And that’s the frightening part."

Even one sitting federal judge — who Politico quoted anonymously — slammed the administration over its attacks on the judiciary. The jurist remarked that Trump's approach was counterproductive, as he'll ultimately need judges to sign off on the legality of his policies if he aims for them to stand.

"It’s a really bizarre way to do business. If he thinks he can intimidate judges, it’s not going to be a successful strategy," the unnamed judge said. "It’s not the way to win cases … Maybe it will appeal to the public, maybe from a public relations perspective, but it’s not a great strategy for the judges that I know."

Aside from Boasberg's ruling on this week's deportation flights, Trump has also complained about judges who have stymied his attempts to eradicate birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants, compelled him to disburse federal funds his administration froze despite Congress already appropriating the money and orders preventing representatives of billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive payment systems at the U.S. Treasury Department.

Click here to read Politico's full article.