Ethics Complaint Filed Against U.S. Judge Accused of Political Bias in Trump Probe

By James Morley III | Saturday, 08 November 2025 06:42 PM EST

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is facing an ethics complaint alleging political bias against former President Donald Trump and his administration, according to reports. The allegations center on Boasberg’s alleged authorization of subpoenas targeting Republican senators and Trump allies as part of investigations into the former president.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, revealed that Boasberg approved a nondisclosure order in 2023 preventing nearly a dozen GOP members of Congress from learning their cellphone records had been obtained by President Joe Biden’s Justice Department. The ethics complaint, filed by the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), accused Boasberg of enabling “one of the biggest scandals in the history of the country.”

The complaint stated that using the Department of Justice to surveil political opposition violates the rights of those investigated and undermines transparency for American citizens. It was sent to Spencer Hallet, court executive for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Special counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed lawmakers’ phone records as part of the Arctic Frost investigation, which sought call and message data from Jan. 4-7, 2021.

CASA Director James Fitzpatrick claimed Boasberg’s approval of Smith’s order could constitute a “constitutional violation.” The organization describes itself as a “nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the safety of the American people.” Fitzpatrick urged immediate investigation into Boasberg and disciplinary action if judicial canons were breached.

Boasberg has faced multiple ethical inquiries in recent weeks, with allegations of anti-Trump bias. Earlier this week, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, filed articles of impeachment against him, accusing him of “failing to appreciate basic statute” and contributing to “legal inquiries that violate the law.”

A memo obtained by The Federalist cited Boasberg telling Chief Justice John Roberts during a March Judicial Conference meeting that judges feared the Trump administration would disregard federal court rulings, risking a constitutional crisis. The statement reportedly disregarded the legal “presumption of regularity,” which assumes public officials properly discharge their duties.

Days after the conference, Boasberg blocked the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a measure to expedite deportations of Venezuelan gang members. The Supreme Court later overturned that ruling in a 5-4 decision. Critics argue these actions highlight a pattern of bias by Boasberg and other D.C. district court judges against the Trump administration.