Republican senators ramp up impeachment rhetoric against judges
Source: NBC News
Jan. 7, 2026, 5:36 PM EST
WASHINGTON — Republican senators on Wednesday increased their scrutiny of federal judges whose rulings they've opposed, with some pushing for them to be impeached. Attention at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on two judges: Washington-based U.S. District Judge James Boasberg and Maryland-based Deborah Boardman, both of whom have fallen foul of MAGA world.
Articles of impeachment naming both Boasberg and Boardman have already been introduced in the Republican-controlled House, but no further steps have yet been taken. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who chaired Wednesday's hearing, urged the House to move forward on impeachment proceedings. "Both of these judges, I believe, meet the standard for impeachment and for conviction and removal from office," he said.
Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., who has already called for Boasberg to be impeached, described him at the hearing as “the embodiment of a rogue judge.” Boasberg has “made it clear time and time again in his rulings and his comments that he, instead of wearing that black robe, wears, in fact, a blue jersey. He has continually abused the power as chief judge,” Schmitt added.
Boasberg has angered Republicans on multiple fronts, but the impeachment rhetoric has focused on his approval of an order that prevented GOP senators including Cruz from knowing about the targeting of their phone records as part of the investigation into President Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republican-senators-impeachment-rhetoric-judges-judiciary-hearing-rcna247082
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