Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, is formally introducing impeachment articles on Tuesday against U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, citing the judge’s involvement in authorizing investigative steps in the “Arctic Frost” operation.
Boasberg has faced mounting criticism from Republican allies of former President Donald Trump after being identified as the judge who approved subpoenas and related requests in former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation.
Gill said in a statement to Fox News Digital, “Chief Judge Boasberg has compromised the impartiality of the judiciary and created a constitutional crisis. He is shamelessly weaponizing his power against his political opponents, including Republican members of Congress who are faithfully serving the American people within their jurisdiction.”
He continued, “Judge Boasberg was an accomplice in the egregious Arctic Frost scandal where he equipped the Biden DOJ to spy on Republican senators. His lack of integrity makes him clearly unfit for the gavel. I am proud to once again introduce articles of impeachment against Judge Boasberg to hold him accountable for his high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Gill’s resolution includes one count of abuse of power, according to text first shared with Fox News Digital.
“Ignoring his responsibility to wield the power of his office in a constitutional manner, Chief Judge Boasberg granted Special Counsel John L. Smith authorization to issue frivolous nondisclosure orders in furtherance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation project codenamed ARCTIC FROST,” the document states.
It continues, “These nondisclosure orders covered Members of Congress who were acting in accord with their legislative duties and privileges guaranteed by Article 1, Section 6, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution.”
The redacted Arctic Frost documents were released late last month by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. The records included subpoenas for the phone data of 10 senators and one House member, as well as gag orders instructing Verizon and AT&T not to notify the lawmakers involved. Verizon complied with the order, while AT&T did not.
Documents indicate that both the subpoenas and the gag orders were signed by Boasberg — a detail that fueled further backlash from Republicans. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, labeled the investigation “worse than Watergate” and a sweeping overreach of prosecutorial authority.
Under the Stored Communications Act, federal judges must independently evaluate whether to authorize such orders; approval is not automatic. It remains unclear what evidence Boasberg reviewed before authorizing the tolling records, as portions of the materials remain classified or heavily redacted.
Republicans named in the subpoenas argue that the orders may violate the Constitution’s speech or debate clause, which protects lawmakers from legal or investigative pressure related to their legislative activity. While those protections are absolute for legislative acts, the exact boundaries are sometimes the subject of judicial interpretation.
This is not the first time Boasberg has been the focus of criticism from Trump allies. Earlier this year, he faced calls for impeachment after issuing an order temporarily halting deportation flights to El Salvador during ongoing litigation.
Gill and other GOP members later pulled back from those efforts when House Republican leaders suggested impeachment might not be the most effective strategy in that instance.
