President Trump and his allies are not backing off their criticism of the federal judge who is challenging his deportation of foreign gang members to a high-security prison in El Salvador.
Mr. Trump on Sunday highlighted a post on social media that said Judge James E. Boasberg, in a 2023 speech to law students, “openly admitted that he didn’t think harsh enough laws existed on the books to punish J6 defendants.”
Judge Boasberg, according to the X account “Insurrection Barbie,” thought the laws that were used to imprison hundreds of rioters, many in his court, failed to meet the gravity of the attack.
“But he doesn’t mind if criminals come into our Country,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social. “He is a Constitutional disaster!”
Elon Musk also piled on the criticism on his social media platform X, on which the world’s richest man said Judge Boasberg’s past remarks were “insane.”
Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk called for impeaching Judge Boasberg after he ordered the administration to turn around the flights carrying purported Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members to El Salvador.
The judge has questioned Mr. Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport the alleged gang members without due process. He called the government “intemperate and disrespectful.”
He also signaled frustration with the flights being carried out immediately after Mr. Trump signed a proclamation saying Tren de Aragua members could be ousted as terrorists under the Alien Enemies Act.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Sunday she expects the Supreme Court will have to step in.
“This is an out-of-control judge – a federal judge trying to control our entire foreign policy and he cannot do it,” Ms. Bondi said on the Fox News program “Sunday Morning Futures.” “He is trying to ask us about national security information, which he is absolutely not entitled to.”
“We will win,” she said.
