House GOP Can Impeach Federal Judges After Speaker’s Endorsement/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Republicans are reigniting efforts to impeach federal judges seen as obstructing Trump’s policies. Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent support has encouraged renewed momentum behind stalled impeachment resolutions. Targeted judges include James Boasberg, drawing criticism over rulings in key Trump-era cases.
GOP Judicial Impeachment Push – Quick Looks
- Speaker Mike Johnson voices support for judicial impeachments
- Rep. Brandon Gill’s resolution targeting Judge Boasberg gains momentum
- Conservative lawmakers cite “activist” rulings blocking Trump initiatives
- Judge Boasberg approved controversial subpoenas and immigration rulings
- Two new GOP lawmakers co-sponsor Boasberg impeachment resolution
- Previous GOP impeachment efforts stalled without leadership support
- Rep. Andy Ogles, Andrew Clyde back renewed push
- Rep. Darrell Issa’s bill to limit judicial injunctions remains alternative
- Critics call impeachment efforts politically motivated; GOP defends constitutional grounds
Deep Look: GOP Revives Judicial Impeachment Push With Speaker Johnson’s Backing
WASHINGTON (Jan. 23, 2026) — House Republicans are reviving efforts to impeach federal judges accused of stalling or blocking President Donald Trump’s agenda, emboldened by new public support from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
The renewed push, first reported by Fox News Digital, centers around Republican claims that certain federal judges — particularly U.S. District Judge James Boasberg — have overstepped their constitutional role by becoming “activist arbiters” of Trump-era policy.
“I just spoke to [Speaker Johnson] on the House floor, and he’s still in support,” said Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), a leading voice in the impeachment campaign.
“We’re going to move forward on at least one.”
Target: Judge Boasberg
Among the most prominent targets is Judge James Boasberg, whose rulings on Trump-era immigration policy and the Arctic Frost investigation have enraged conservatives.
Boasberg previously blocked Trump’s controversial immigration transfer plan involving deportations to El Salvador and other third-party countries. More recently, he approved subpoenas that led to the seizure of phone records from Republican lawmakers, fueling GOP accusations of judicial overreach.
“Boasberg has been acting as an agent of the Democrat Party for quite some time now,”
said Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas), who reintroduced impeachment articles against the judge.
Following Johnson’s public support, Gill confirmed that two more Republican lawmakers have co-sponsored his resolution.
Impeachment vs. Injunction Reform
Previously, House leadership preferred to rein in judges via legislation, backing Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-Calif.) bill to limit federal district judges from issuing nationwide injunctions. That bill passed the House on party lines but stalled in the Senate.
Now, with Johnson saying bluntly, “I’m for it” during a press conference this week, impeachment talk is gaining traction.
Supporters of impeachment argue it’s not just symbolic — it’s a constitutional tool to address “egregious abuses of power.”
Conservative Lawmakers Rally Support
A number of GOP lawmakers who previously supported impeachment say they’re ready to try again.
- Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) called Boasberg “one of the most forthright judicial activists” on the bench.
- Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) said Speaker Johnson’s legal credibility adds weight to the effort.
- Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, noted that “more of an appetite” exists now than earlier in the session.
“We didn’t want to be distracted with potential impeachment before,” Gooden said.
“But now… the nation expects accountability.”
Not All Republicans On Board
Despite the momentum, not every Republican is fully convinced the impeachment path is viable.
- Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus, expressed doubts about whether the resolution could clear committee hurdles.
- Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), Vice Chair of the GOP Conference, cautioned against politicizing impeachment and praised Issa’s bill as a more “substantive” solution.
“Everybody has to be willing to consider impeachment,” Moore said.
“But I really like Issa’s approach — it focuses on reform, not just rhetoric.”
Democrats: Attack on Judicial Independence
Democrats and legal experts argue that the GOP’s renewed efforts amount to partisan retaliation against judges carrying out their constitutional duties.
They say impeachment is being weaponized against a co-equal branch of government, undermining judicial independence.
Nonetheless, Republicans insist their actions are grounded in constitutional oversight, especially when judges are seen as undermining legislative and executive intent.
“If we can’t hold the judiciary accountable for political bias, who will?”
one senior GOP aide said.
What’s Next?
With Speaker Johnson’s endorsement, conservatives are expected to escalate efforts to build support and bring at least one impeachment resolution — likely Boasberg’s — to a House-wide vote.
Whether the resolution survives committee review or ultimately passes remains uncertain, but the political tone is shifting, and judicial accountability could become a core issue in the 2026 election cycle.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.