A second whistleblower has stepped forward with explosive claims against Emil Bove, a senior Justice Department official and President Donald Trump’s nominee for a federal appellate judgeship, alleging he once suggested that DOJ attorneys could disregard federal court orders during a heated immigration case.
This whistleblower, a former DOJ attorney from the Office of Immigration Litigation, told CNN that documents filed with the DOJ’s Office of Inspector General support earlier allegations that Bove tried to mislead judges during the Trump administration’s controversial deportation push earlier this year.
“I believe it would be incredibly dangerous for someone like that to have a lifetime judicial appointment,” the whistleblower said.
These new disclosures, submitted in May, predate similar accusations made public in June by Erez Reuveni, a DOJ immigration specialist involved in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was allegedly deported in violation of court orders. After Reuveni went public, the second whistleblower confirmed their own complaint had already been submitted to the inspector general.
While CNN has not independently reviewed the full documents, the whistleblower is being represented by Whistleblower Aid. The new revelation surfaces just days ahead of a scheduled Senate vote on Bove’s judicial confirmation.
“I think he has demonstrated a clear disregard for the authority of federal courts and for DOJ attorneys tasked with upholding the law,” the whistleblower said.
A DOJ spokesperson defended Bove, calling him “a highly qualified judicial nominee” who has worked to protect civil rights and national security, adding, “He will make an excellent judge — the Department’s loss will be the Third Circuit’s gain.”
Bove, who previously served as one of President Trump’s personal attorneys, helped defend him in his two federal criminal cases — both dismissed following Trump’s reelection — and in the New York hush money trial, where Trump was convicted on all 34 counts.
Bove has denied the initial whistleblower’s allegations that, during a March meeting, he said the DOJ might have to tell courts to “f**k off” if they blocked Trump’s immigration agenda. At his confirmation hearing, Bove said he had “no recollection” of such comments and insisted, “I have never advised a DOJ attorney to violate a court order.”
Despite the growing controversy, Bove’s nomination has advanced through the Senate on party lines. All 12 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move him forward, prompting every Democrat to walk out in protest after Sen. Cory Booker sharply criticized GOP Chair Chuck Grassley.
The second whistleblower said they decided to leave the DOJ in March after the Trump administration authorized the deportation of migrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act — despite a court-issued restraining order. The whistleblower claims Bove told DOJ attorneys to withhold that court order from judges.
“That’s when I knew I could no longer stay,” the whistleblower said.
In June, the Senate Judiciary Committee received a letter confirming the whistleblower had filed a protected disclosure with the DOJ inspector general. The letter alleges senior DOJ officials may have violated federal law by disregarding a March 2025 temporary restraining order from a Washington, D.C., judge.
Although the letter did not name Bove directly, it outlined concerns that Senate Republicans were ignoring serious red flags to push through a nominee loyal to President Trump.
“It appears they would rather rush through the confirmation process than take time to seriously examine the allegations,” the whistleblower said.
A spokesperson for Sen. Grassley said the senator’s office had contacted the whistleblower’s legal representatives and the DOJ inspector general. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee declined to comment. The DOJ inspector general’s office has not responded to requests for comment.
