75 Ex-Judges Sent Letter to Senate to Block Trump’s Bove Nomination/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Over 75 former judges are urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Donald Trump’s judicial nominee Emil Bove, citing ethical concerns and past controversies. Bove’s record as Trump’s former attorney and Justice Department official has drawn intense scrutiny. The Senate is set to vote on his nomination Thursday.
Emil Bove Nomination Quick Looks
- Over 75 former judges oppose Emil Bove’s appeals court nomination
- Critics cite Bove’s record of alleged legal misconduct and loyalty to Trump
- Whistleblower accuses Bove of plotting illegal actions for deportation agenda
- Senate Judiciary Committee vote scheduled for Thursday
- Bove denies allegations, insists he’s not a “henchman”
- Retired Republican-appointed judges sign letter opposing Bove
- Concerns raised about presidents nominating their personal attorneys
- Bove previously worked as a federal prosecutor and Trump’s defense lawyer
Deep Look
Over 75 Former Judges Demand Senate Reject Trump’s Judicial Nominee Emil Bove, Citing Alleged Misconduct and Threats to Judicial Integrity
WASHINGTON — More than 75 former federal and state judges issued a strong call on Tuesday for the Senate Judiciary Committee to block the nomination of Emil Bove, a former personal attorney for President Donald Trump, to the influential 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The unprecedented opposition from within the judiciary underscores profound concerns about Bove’s past conduct and the broader implications of placing a former presidential defense attorney on the federal bench.
Judges Cite Alarming Record of Alleged Abuses
In a sharply worded letter, the group of judges accused Bove of exhibiting an “egregious record of mistreating law enforcement officers, abusing power, and disregarding the law itself.”
They highlighted a series of controversial episodes involving Bove during his tenure as a senior Justice Department official over the past six months. These include leading investigations into FBI and Justice Department officials involved in cases linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and his decision to drop federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The letter also referenced explosive allegations from a whistleblower, former Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni, who claims Bove plotted to defy court orders and direct law enforcement officers to carry out illegal acts to advance Trump’s immigration crackdown.
“That whistleblower, Erez Reuveni, has provided members of this committee with compelling evidence and volunteered to testify under oath,” the judges wrote. “The Senate has a duty to hear that testimony.”
Bove Defends Himself at Senate Hearing
Bove, who would receive a lifetime appointment if confirmed, vigorously denied accusations of corruption and misconduct during his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last month.
“I am not anybody’s henchman,” Bove declared on June 25. “I’m not an enforcer. I’m a lawyer from a small town, who never expected to be in an arena like this.”
Despite his denials, scrutiny around Bove has only intensified, fueled by his close ties to Trump and his actions as interim deputy attorney general. After Trump returned to office in January, Bove swiftly worked to align the Justice Department’s policies with the president’s directives, sparking tensions with long-serving career officials. Several high-level resignations and dismissals reportedly followed as a result of Bove’s maneuvers.
High-Profile Conservative Judges Join Opposition
The letter opposing Bove’s nomination has drawn support from prominent conservative figures, including retired Republican-appointed judges. Among them is J. Michael Luttig, a widely respected conservative legal scholar and former federal appeals court judge nominated by President George H.W. Bush. Luttig, who has publicly criticized Trump in recent years, even endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.
Senate Faces Divided Decision
Bove’s nomination is expected to receive a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Thursday. One pivotal swing vote, GOP Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, told CNN on Monday that he leans toward supporting Bove’s confirmation despite Bove’s refusal to explicitly denounce the violence of January 6 in a written Senate questionnaire.
Previously, Tillis had drawn a firm red line, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper that he would oppose any judicial nominees who showed sympathy toward the Capitol attack. That stance notably torpedoed the nomination of Trump’s former D.C. U.S. Attorney pick, Ed Martin.
Tillis’ evolving position illustrates the political balancing act many Republican senators face as they weigh Trump’s influence against public scrutiny of controversial nominees.
Concerns Over Precedent of Appointing Personal Lawyers
Beyond concerns about Bove’s conduct, the judges’ letter warned of dangerous implications in nominating a president’s former personal criminal defense attorney to a lifetime federal judgeship.
“It is deeply inappropriate for a president to nominate their own former criminal defense attorney to serve on the federal bench,” the letter states. Elevating Bove, they argue, “would not only compromise the integrity of the courts, it would set a dangerous precedent that judicial power may be wielded in service of personal fealty rather than constitutional duty.”
Those who signed the letter, many of whom underwent the rigorous Senate confirmation process themselves, emphasized how vital it is for senators to carefully vet judicial nominees entrusted with lifetime appointments.
If confirmed, Bove would join roughly a dozen judges on the 3rd Circuit, which hears federal appeals from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands—a jurisdiction with broad influence over significant legal and constitutional issues.
As Bove’s nomination advances, the Senate faces a consequential decision that could redefine norms surrounding judicial independence and the separation between partisan loyalty and constitutional duty.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.