Judges in the Hot Seat: Senate Republicans Push for Impeachment

Senate Republicans recently held a hearing to discuss the impeachment of certain judges. This move comes after President Trump and his supporters have been vocal about removing judges who have ruled against his policies. Democrats, however, see this as an attempt to pressure the judiciary into favoring the Trump administration. Senator Ted Cruz, leading the hearing, argued that judges can be impeached not just for crimes but also for actions that undermine the country's structure. He highlighted two judges, James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman, who are facing impeachment resolutions in the House. Boasberg has been criticized for blocking Trump's use of wartime powers and for ordering phone carriers not to disclose records related to an investigation into Trump's 2020 election loss. Boardman is under fire for giving what some consider a lenient sentence to a man who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.Democrats, like Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, argue that impeachment should not be used to challenge judicial decisions. They believe that appeals are the proper way to address disagreements with rulings. The hearing featured witnesses with differing views. Some, like Robert Luther, suggested that judges can indeed be impeached for their conduct, while others, like Stephen Vladeck, warned that impeaching judges over rulings sets a dangerous precedent. The impeachment resolutions against Boasberg and Boardman have not advanced in the House. However, Cruz has urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to move forward with these resolutions. The judges invited to testify at the hearing declined the invitation.