The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has filed a formal misconduct complaint against U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg, accusing him of making improper remarks about President Donald Trump and questioning the administration’s commitment to following court orders.
Fox News obtained a copy of the complaint, drafted by Bondi’s Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle and sent to Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. It marks the second formal complaint the Bondi DOJ has filed against a federal judge since she assumed office.
DOJ Accuses Boasberg of Undermining Judiciary
According to the complaint, Judge Boasberg made inappropriate comments during a March 11 Judicial Conference, allegedly warning Chief Justice John Roberts and other federal judges that the Trump administration would “disregard rulings of federal courts” and potentially cause a “constitutional crisis.”
Mizelle wrote that Boasberg “strayed from traditional administrative topics” and tried to sway fellow judges with “baseless accusations” about President Trump’s administration. The complaint insists that the Trump White House has fully complied with all court orders and labels Boasberg’s predictions as unjustified.
Boasberg’s Actions in Deportation Case Cited
Shortly after his remarks at the conference, Boasberg issued an emergency restraining order blocking the deportation of Tren de Aragua gang members—a move the DOJ said exceeded his authority and was later overturned by the Supreme Court.
“These actions, taken together, violate judicial ethics and erode public confidence in the courts,” the DOJ wrote, urging Srinivasan to launch an investigation and remove Boasberg from a high-profile case involving the deportation of 252 Venezuelan migrants.
The case in question—J.G.G. v. Trump—has put Boasberg at the center of growing tensions between the judiciary and the Trump administration. The judge’s March 15 emergency order demanded planes deporting migrants be turned around midair, but the DOJ allegedly failed to comply, triggering threats of contempt from the court.
Trump Admin Criticism, Boasberg Under Fire
Judge Boasberg has drawn sharp rebukes from the Trump administration, which has labeled him an “activist judge.” President Trump himself has hinted at possible impeachment, prompting Chief Justice Roberts to issue a rare statement defending judicial independence.
Boasberg, originally appointed by President George W. Bush and elevated to chief judge in the D.C. district, has since been involved in a series of legal battles over the White House’s deportation and immigration orders.
In April, Boasberg ruled that the Trump administration had shown “willful disregard” for his March 15 order and found probable cause for contempt. The D.C. Circuit has stayed that ruling, and the issue remains unresolved.
Broader Pattern of DOJ Complaints
This is not the first time Bondi’s DOJ has challenged the conduct of a federal judge. In February, a similar complaint was filed against Judge Ana Reyes over her handling of a case involving the Trump administration’s executive order restricting transgender military service.
Critics of the administration argue these complaints are part of a broader effort to pressure the judiciary. Supporters say the complaints are necessary to ensure fairness in politically charged cases.
Meanwhile, attorneys for the former Venezuelan detainees have asked Judge Boasberg to reopen discovery, citing a UN report and concerns about their transfer to El Salvador and eventually to Venezuela under a controversial prisoner exchange.
Asked recently whether the DOJ would comply with future court orders in the case, DOJ attorney Tiberius Davis said, “if it was a lawful order,” signaling the likelihood of continued legal clashes ahead.
The complaint is now in the hands of Chief Judge Srinivasan, who will decide whether to refer the matter to a special investigative committee.
