Republicans approve Emil Bove, a prior attorney for Trump, for a lifetime position on the appeals court
Emil Bove, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump and a Justice Department official, has been confirmed as a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, despite allegations of unethical conduct.
Whistleblowers have accused Bove of urging lawyers to defy federal court orders involving deportation cases, misleading claims about the nature of deportees, contradicting testimony during his Senate confirmation, and interference in politically sensitive DOJ prosecutions.
One whistleblower, Erez Reuveni, alleged that Bove told subordinates they might have to ignore court orders blocking Trump's deportation efforts. Another whistleblower presented documents contradicting Bove’s testimony during his confirmation hearing. The specific details of how Bove is alleged to have misled senators have not been publicly disclosed.
The confirmation came despite strong opposition from over 900 former DOJ prosecutors, federal and state judges, and criticism from senators such as Cory Booker. Senate Democrats walked out of a hearing on Bove's nomination, and Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed concerns about Bove's conduct, stating that an individual who counsels attorneys to ignore the law should not be placed on the bench.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described Bove as being "as far from the mainstream as any judicial nominee" and "openly hostile to the rule of law". The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board has warned that Bove's reputation is as a smashmouth partisan who wields the law as a weapon.
Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, dismissed the complaints raised by the third whistleblower and supported Bove's nomination, citing his strong legal background and service to the country. The Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Bove, with only Republican votes. Two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, voted against the nomination.
In response to the allegations, Senators Adam Schiff and Cory Booker wrote a letter asking the Justice Department's acting inspector general whether it is investigating Bove. Tillis, who is retiring from Congress, was approached by whistleblowers who have submitted complaints about Bove's nomination.
The connection to Adams' case was first reported by The Washington Post. The specific details of how Bove is alleged to have interfered in the DOJ prosecution against New York City Mayor Eric Adams have not been publicly disclosed. Grassley's staff met with attorneys for the third whistleblower, but Grassley stated the allegations would not delay Bove's confirmation vote.
Tillis compared the late disclosure of the third whistleblower's claims to the late allegations that came out against Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation battle. The controversy surrounding Bove's confirmation has raised serious concerns about the fitness of judicial nominees and the integrity of the confirmation process.
The allegations against Emil Bove, including urging lawyers to defy federal court orders, misleading claims about the nature of deportees, and interference in politically sensitive DOJ prosecutions, raise concerns about his fitness as a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, particularly in the context of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice.
Despite strong criticism from over 900 former DOJ prosecutors, federal and state judges, senators, and whistleblowers, Bove's nomination was confirmed, highlighting a potential politicization of the judicial confirmation process.
