US Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday rebuked President Donald Trump for suggesting that the way to resolve a court dispute was by impeaching the judge.
In a statement, Roberts said that for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreements over judicial decisions.
Roberts’ statement followed Trump’s call in a social media post on Tuesday for the impeachment of a federal judge.
Washington-based US District Judge James Boasberg had ordered the administration on Saturday to halt the removal of alleged Venezuelan gang members—a move Trump argued was authorised by an 18th-century law historically used only in wartime.
“I’m just doing what the voters wanted me to do. This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be impeached!!!” Trump wrote.
Roberts, a conservative appointed by Republican former President George W. Bush, previously issued a similar rebuke in 2018, when he defended the judiciary’s independence following persistent attacks by Trump during his first term in office.
US Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Trump for attack on judge
