White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ripped a federal district court judge on Wednesday after he ordered flights carrying deported suspected Venezuelan gang members who were in the country illegally returned.
Leavitt’s remarks came on the heels of President Donald Trump’s criticism of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg as a “radical left lunatic” following a temporary order blocking deportation flights.
In addition to labeling Boasberg an “activist” judge, she also took a verbal shot at his wife over her political donations to Democrats.
“The judge in this case is essentially trying to say the president doesn’t have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil. That is an egregious abuse of the bench,” she told assembled reporters during a press briefing.
Earlier this month, Trump designated the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua gang a terrorist organization. He ordered hundreds of them removed from the country last week under authorities vested in him by the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act, but Boasberg claimed in his ruling that Trump didn’t have the power to do so.
“This judge cannot, does not, have that authority. It is the opinion of this White House and of this administration. And that’s why we’re fighting this in court. And it’s very, very clear that this is an activist judge who is trying to usurp this president’s authority,” Leavitt continued.
“Under the Alien Enemies Act, the president has the power, and that’s why the deportation campaign will continue. And this judge, Judge Boasberg, is a Democrat activist. He was appointed by Barack Obama,” she added.
She mentioned that his wife, Elizabeth Manson, has donated over $10,000 to Democratic candidates. She also said that the judge “has consistently shown his disdain for this president and his policies, and it’s unacceptable.”
Earlier, Trump — as well as some GOP lawmakers — called for Boasberg to be impeached. Leavitt repeatedly emphasized that Trump has “respect” for Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts, who publicly cautioned Tuesday that impeachment was “not an appropriate response” to a judicial disagreement.
Boasberg, a Washington native, attended Yale Law School, earned an advanced degree at Oxford, and was appointed by Roberts to head the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which deals with highly classified information and cases involving the U.S. intelligence community.
At the briefing, a reporter pointed out that although Obama later elevated the judge, he had originally been appointed to the Superior Court by President George W. Bush. But Leavitt countered that “67 percent of all of the injunctions in this century have come against which president?Donald J. Trump.”
She added: “Let me say that again – 60 percent of the injunctions — bipartisan activists in the judicial branch — have come against President Donald Trump.”
Leavitt also said that the injunctions were part of a clear campaign by “leftists who don’t like this president and are trying to impose or slow down positions.”
The press secretary also refused to provide an answer when a reporter asked why the administration wouldn’t identify the individuals flown to El Salvador—alleged members of violent gangs—even though images of some were posted on social media.
“We are not going to reveal operational details about a counterterrorism operation,” she responded. “We have the highest degree of confidence in our ICE agents and our Customs Border Patrol agents who have committed their lives to targeting illegal criminals in our country, particularly foreign terrorists.”
On Wednesday, Boasberg presided over a contentious hearing with Justice Department lawyers and stated his intent to determine whether the government “deliberately flouted” his order.
Meanwhile, some Republicans in Congress moved to file articles of impeachment against the judge, including Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
“I voted for President Trump, not activist judges! Congress must impeach those obstructing the agenda Americans overwhelmingly supported,” she noted on X.
