Latest news with #judicialnomination
The Guardian
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Republicans reward Emil Bove for Trump loyalty with lifetime judgeship
When more than 80 judges signed a letter opposing Emil Bove's judicial nomination, they implored the US Senate to do its job in interrogating and investigating a host of serious claims that undermine the independence and credibility of his potential judgeship. Now, Bove is among them – a member of the judiciary. The Senate narrowly – and quickly – confirmed Bove for a lifetime appointment to the United States court of appeals for the third circuit, on a 50-49 vote, without looking deeply into allegations from multiple whistleblowers. The retired judges, in their 15 July letter, warned that elevating to the judiciary someone like Bove – who allegedly has shown a disregard for court orders, fired prosecutors who don't align politically with Trump, and once personally represented the president – would 'set a dangerous precedent that judicial power may be wielded in service of personal fealty rather than constitutional duty'. Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the fair courts program and an adviser at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said the senators who voted to confirm Bove 'failed their constituents and our country'. 'For the future of our courts and our democracy, this cannot be the new normal for the US Senate,' Zwarensteyn said. Bove's confirmation fits the tenor of the second Trump administration: loyalty to the president is the primary litmus test for elected Republicans who largely line up behind him with minimal questioning. The Senate is tasked with the power to 'advise and consent' on judicial nominees. 'The constitution gives the Senate the authority to advise and consent for a reason,' said Allyson Duncan, a retired fourth US circuit court of appeals judge. 'And the process has to serve that purpose, and it does not serve that purpose if it's truncated.' Trump has raged against judges who ruled against him – including conservatives and his own appointees. His administration has openly defied court orders and flouted the rule of law. These attacks have led to death threats and harassment against judges, and led to rare public comments by high-profile members of the judiciary who have called for turning down the rhetoric. Stocking the judiciary with people who will not defy him is an extension of this battle for control of a separate branch of government. Loyalty as litmus test was apparent in Trump's announcement that he would nominate Bove. Alongside his legal bona fides – a Georgetown Law degree, a near-decade as assistant US attorney in the southern district of New York – Trump highlighted his allegiance. 'He will end the Weaponization of Justice, restore the Rule of Law, and do anything else that is necessary to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Emil Bove will never let you down!' Trump wrote on Truth Social. Quinta Jurecic, a writer for the Atlantic, detailed how Bove's confirmation was a 'sign of the times' and a signal to young lawyers of what it will take to get ahead now. 'Whatever approach Bove takes from here, his path so far has demonstrated that total sycophancy to the president can be a fantastic career move for ambitious lawyers,' she wrote. Bove's work in the past six months as acting deputy attorney general and then principal associate deputy attorney general in the Department of Justice includes a host of legal and ethical issues that, if he had been nominated to a prestigious and lifelong judicial position in years past, would have probably led to months of hearings and, potentially, disqualification. The Senate judiciary committee chair, Chuck Grassley, a Republican, panned Democrats who called for Bove to be rejected. He said Democrats had engaged in a 'delay-and-obstruction tactic' and claimed he had 'thoroughly' vetted the nominee and whistleblower claims. 'My message to the three whistleblowers is this: just because I may disagree with the conclusions in a whistleblower disclosure, it doesn't mean that I don't support a whistleblower's right to come forward,' Grassley said. Whistleblower Erez Reuveni, a fired justice department official, claims Bove told department lawyers that they 'would need to consider telling the courts 'fuck you' and ignore any such court order' that would block them from sending immigrants to El Salvador. Bove has denied this, though Reuveni has provided messages that back up his claims. A second, unidentified whistleblower represented by the non-profit Whistleblower Aid also provided evidence that corroborated Reuveni's allegations, the organization said. More than 900 former justice department lawyers wrote in a letter that 'Bove has been a leader in this assault' on the rule of law and on career employees who sought to uphold it. Bove 'directed the termination' of more than a dozen prosecutors who worked on cases related to January 6, the letter says. A third whistleblower has alleged that Bove misled Congress about his role in dropping corruption charges against the New York mayor, Eric Adams, the Washington Post reported. Some veteran prosecutors resigned their roles instead of following orders to end the prosecution of Adams for several fraud and bribery charges. Bove's confirmation 'does undermine faith in the judiciary', said the retired federal judge Shira Scheindlin, who served in the southern district of New York and signed the letter from retired judges. 'This man is the wrong person to sit on a federal appellate court. He doesn't have the right background, the right qualifications. Actions speak louder than anything.'
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump appellate court nominee defends comments on 'gender roles'
July 30 (Reuters) - A former clerk to a pair of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices who was nominated by President Donald Trump to become a federal appeals court judge on Wednesday defended past comments criticizing "radical feminists' for trying to 'blur gender roles" and "undermine institutions like marriage." Eric Tung, a partner at the law firm Jones Day, was grilled by Democratic members of the Republican-led U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about those and other comments as the panel weighed his nomination to become a life-tenured judge on the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel also heard from three other judicial nominees, including Joshua Dunlap, a Maine litigator with a track record of pursuing Republican-backed court cases who is Trump's nominee to serve on the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But the sharpest questions were directed at Tung, who Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California said was picked by Trump because of his "extreme conservative ideology and his associations with the conservative Federalist Society." Tung, who is based in Los Angeles, is a former law clerk to both Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016, and described himself as an avowed originalist and textualist, the favored legal doctrines of judicial conservatives. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, the panel's chair, called Tung "a stand out appellate lawyer" and "a great choice to serve on the 9th Circuit." Padilla and Senator Dick Durbin, the panel's top Democrat, zeroed in on remarks attributed to Tung by Yale's student newspaper when he was an undergraduate student in 2004 criticizing a speech by the then head of the feminist organization the National Organization for Women. 'I believe in emphasizing family and what it means for a woman to be a good wife or partner," Tung was quoted as saying. 'I believe in gender roles and that women are simply better than men at some things. When these radical feminists try to blur gender roles, they undermine institutions like marriage — institutions which hold society together." Padilla, who said the White House spurned his recommendation to nominate two other Republicans to a California-based seat on the 9th Circuit vacancy instead of Tung, called those comments "reprehensible" and pressed him on whether he believed men were better than women. Tung responded that he made the comments "over 20 years ago when I was an undergraduate in college." He cited his wife's own professional and political career history as he said she "is better at many things and not just some things than I am." He told Durbin he made those remarks because he found the speaker's views "extreme" and "because I believed at the time that the relationship between men and women was complementary and that the family should be strengthened." Durbin said the quote "wasn't a youthful indiscretion." He pointed to remarks Tung drafted for a recent Federalist Society event where he said "whether there's a constitutional right to abortion, same-sex marriage, sodomy ... the answer for the originalist is simple: no." "You seem to be questioning landmark Supreme Court decisions like Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell," Durbin said. "Let me ask you point blank. Do you believe there's a constitutional right to marriage for same-sex couples?" Tung responded that the Supreme Court in its 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges recognized a constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples, "and as a circuit judge, if I were so lucky to be confirmed, I would be bound by that precedent." He declined to address his current views on gender roles, saying it was an issue that could come before him as a judge. Read more: Republican US Senator Grassley clashes with Trump over nominations Trump names two new nominees to serve as appeals court judges
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Who is Emil Bove, Trump's former lawyer and nominee for federal judge?
In a dramatic protest earlier this month, multiple Democratic US senators stormed out of a committee hearing one remained: Senator Cory Booker, who stayed at the Judiciary Committee hearing only to excoriate his Republican colleagues for "trying to rush through one of the most controversial nominees we've had under this presidential administration."At the heart of the spectacle was Emil Bove III, Donald Trump's former personal attorney and his pick for a lifetime position as a federal appeals court judge. The Senate paved the way for a final vote on his nomination on Tuesday night. He was confirmed to the judgeship in a 50-49 president has appointed several personal attorneys and political allies to top posts at the justice department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But he nominated Mr Bove for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where he could conceivably review one of hundreds of lawsuits against the Trump administration. The lifetime tenure also could extend his influence long after Trump's has said Mr Bove will "end the Weaponization of Justice." But Democrats like Booker, and hundreds of former federal prosecutors, allege that appointing a Trump loyalist for life compromises the judicial system's Bove, however, told US senators at his confirmation hearing in June, "I am not anybody's henchman." "I am not an enforcer. I'm a lawyer from a small town who never expected to be in an arena like this," said Mr Bove, who was born and raised in upstate New York and attended Georgetown Law School. From Trump's attorney to top lieutenant For six weeks in spring 2024, Mr Bove was a constant presence at Trump's side as the once and future president stood trial in Manhattan on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He ultimately was found guilty on all counts, becoming the first former US president convicted of a felony. While his co-counsel Todd Blanche – now deputy attorney general – channelled the president's combative energy in multiple showdowns with the judge and witnesses, Mr Bove took a quieter yet forceful approach in defending the knows courtrooms well. Mr Bove was a federal prosecutor in the country's most prestigious division, the Southern District of New York (SDNY), from 2012 to 2021, promoted to leadership positions in narcotics and terrorism units in nine years, he prosecuted cases including multimillion dollar fraud schemes, and convicted a cocaine trafficker – also the brother of Honduras' president at the time."If you want somebody who's going to hit the ground running, he's the guy," former SDNY colleague, Brendan Quigley, told Reuters in February. "He's not one to shy away from a fight."Yet a Politico report suggested his leadership tenure at the SDNY was rocky, with some former colleagues telling the outlet that he had a harsh and even "abusive" management style. An internal inquiry initially concluded he should be demoted, Politico reported, but the office did not follow through on the about the report at his Senate confirmation hearing in June, Mr Bove said he was aware of the inquiry - "as well as the fact that I was not removed".He called the characterisation a "whisper campaign" and "not accurate."Trump had appointed Mr Bove to a powerful role managing daily operations at the justice department. He became the subject of an explosive February memo and resignation from New York federal prosecutor Danielle Sassoon. She alleged Mr Bove's order to drop a felony case against New York City mayor Eric Adams was politically motivated and legally unjustified. Both Adams and Mr Bove have denied her accusations. The incident led to a mass exodus at the SDNY and justice department's Public Integrity Unit, which provides oversight on cases involving politicians.A few weeks later, before a federal judge in New York he argued to dismiss Adams' case, which a judge ultimately also was in a whistleblower complaint by former justice department attorney Erez Reuveni, who was fired after he told a federal judge he could not provide legal justification for the removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a mistakenly deported Salvadoran his 27-page complaint, Mr Reuveni alleged that Mr Bove raised the possibility judges would try to block such deportations, then "stated that DOJ would need to consider telling the courts 'f—you' and ignore any such court order."After the complaint became public, Mr Blanche slammed it as "utterly false."Democrats demanded more investigation, but Senator Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, accused Democrats of politicising the whistleblower complaint."Government lawyers aggressively litigating and interpreting court orders isn't misconduct — it's what lawyers do all the time," he said earlier this month."Emil Bove is an incredibly talented legal mind and a staunch defender of the U.S. Constitution who will make an excellent circuit court judge," White House spokesman Harrison Fields told BBC in a statement. Former prosecutors opposed nomination Many recently departed justice department staffers worry the agency has deviated from its historic independence from the White House. And they allege Mr Bove along with Mr Blanche and Attorney General Pam Bondi have driven that Connection, a group representing former federal prosecutors, published a letter signed by over 900 former justice department attorneys urging senators to "rigorously examine" Mr Bove's time at the agency."Emil Bove has been an architect and enforcer of many of the attacks on DOJ and its employees," Stacey Young, the group's executive director, said in a statement. Federal courts remain the only serious check on Trump's executive power. As Trump battles in US federal courts over mass deportations and firing thousands of federal workers, his choice of Mr Bove makes some strategic sense."The president is reportedly upset that some of his first-term nominees haven't ruled his way, and it's not a surprise that he would nominate somebody like Bove, who prioritizes personal loyalty above all and is effective at doing that at the justice department," said Sara Zdeb, former justice department attorney who left in January and now teaches at Emory presidents appoint federal judges in ideological alignment with their administrations. But Trump - who has suggested judges have no power to block a president's agenda - may be attempting to go a step further, she said."Emil Bove's nomination sends an alarming, but unsurprising, signal that President Trump's future judicial nominees will be chosen based on their fealty to the president, not the rule of law," she said.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Whistleblower evidence suggests Trump judicial nominee Emil Bove misled Senate
A new whistleblower has come forward to challenge the federal judicial nomination of Emil Bove, sharing evidence with lawmakers suggesting the controversial former attorney for Donald Trump and current top Justice Department official misled lawmakers during his confirmation hearing last month. The whistleblower — whose existence has not been previously reported — presented documentation that contradicts claims Bove made before the Senate Judiciary Committee about a Justice Department prosecution. The Washington Post reviewed the evidence and agreed to withhold details to protect the identity of the whistleblower, whose lawyers spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the whistleblower's fear of retribution.
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Senate considering nomination of ex-Trump defense lawyer for lifetime appointment to appeals court
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate narrowly voted on Tuesday to begin considering the nomination of former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge, with at least one Republican opposed and Democrats vowing to try to slow his confirmation. Bove, a former criminal defense lawyer for President Donald Trump, is now a top official at the Justice Department. His nomination for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has come under intense scrutiny from Democrats after a fired department lawyer said he suggested the Trump administration may need to ignore judicial commands — a claim Bove denies. He was at the forefront of the department's dismissed corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He has also accused FBI officials of 'insubordination' for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors involved in those Jan. 6 criminal cases. The 50-48 vote came after Democrats forced an additional procedural vote on his nomination, an effort to protest the nomination and delay the process. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Bove 'the extreme of the extreme of the extreme' and 'Trump's worst judicial nominee to date.' 'Mr. Bove's entire career has been built on one thing: fealty to Donald Trump,' Schumer said. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote against moving to consider the nomination, signaling that Republicans will have the votes to confirm Bove by the end of the week. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted to move forward but has not said whether she will support Bove's confirmation. The tension and delays over Bove's nomination come as Republicans have tried to move Trump's nominees as quickly as possible and as Trump has pushed Senate Majority Leader John Thune to skip the traditional August recess to stay in session and confirm more judges and executive branch officials. Thune said he is considering doing that if Democrats continue to force delays, and Democrats have shown little signs of letting up. At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Bove took criticism of his tenure head-on, telling lawmakers he understands some of his decisions 'have generated controversy.' But Bove said he has been inaccurately portrayed as Trump's 'henchman' and 'enforcer' at the department. 'I am someone who tries to stand up for what I believe is right,' Bove said. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the panel, said Bove has used his position 'to weaponize the Department of Justice against the president's enemies.' Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, defended Bove against the whistleblower's claims and said he deserves fair treatment. He said Democrats withheld the complaint from the fired lawyer and that his staff had investigated the claims. 'Mr. Bove has a strong legal background and has served his country honorably,' Grassley said at a Senate Judiciary meeting last week, where Democrats walked out in protest. The whistleblower complaint came from a former Justice Department lawyer who was fired in April after conceding in court that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had been living in Maryland, was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. That lawyer, Erez Reuveni, described efforts by top Justice Department officials in the weeks before his firing to stonewall and mislead judges to carry out deportations championed by the White House. Reuveni described a Justice Department meeting in March concerning Trump's plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act over what the president claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Reuveni said Bove raised the possibility that a court might block the deportations before they could happen. Reuveni claims Bove used a profanity in saying the department would need to consider telling the courts what to do and 'ignore any such order,' Reuveni's lawyers said in the filing. Bove said he has 'no recollection of saying anything of that kind.' A former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Bove was on Trump's legal team during his New York hush money trial and defended Trump in the two federal criminal cases brought by the Justice Department. If confirmed by the Senate, he'll serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. ___
