Republicans have been too timid for too long. All of that is changing.
Now Ted Cruz issued an impeachment warning that no one can ignore.
Cruz Champions Judicial Integrity with Impeachment Push
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, leveraging his sharp legal acumen and position on the Senate Judiciary Committee, boldly advocated for the impeachment of two federal judges during a pivotal hearing, emphasizing the need to hold the judiciary accountable for actions that undermine public trust and constitutional principles.
Cruz targeted U.S. District Judges James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman, arguing that their rulings represent the kind of deeper offenses the nation’s framers intended to address through impeachment, even if not strictly criminal.
He stated, “Rarer still, until now, were the deeper offenses the framers feared most — judges who, without necessarily breaking a criminal statute, violate the public trust, subvert the constitutional order or wield their office in ways that injure society itself. That is why, throughout history, Congress recognized that impeachable misconduct need not be criminal.”
This move highlights Cruz’s commitment to defending the rule of law, especially in cases tied to threats against conservative figures and overreaches in investigations linked to the Trump era. While impeaching judges is exceedingly rare—with only 15 such cases in U.S. history—Cruz’s call resonates amid growing concerns over judicial impartiality, though it would require House initiation and a two-thirds Senate vote, making bipartisan support essential but challenging.
Examining Boasberg’s Role in Subpoena Overreach
Cruz zeroed in on Judge James Boasberg for approving gag orders in 2023 that enabled former special counsel Jack Smith to secretly subpoena phone records of Republican senators during probes into the 2020 election and January 6 events, without promptly notifying those affected.
Witnesses at the hearing, including George Mason University law professor Rob Luther, questioned Boasberg’s oversight, asking, “One must ask on what basis Judge Boasberg found that the disclosure of subpoenas would result in destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and cause serious jeopardy to the investigation, end quote. Did Judge Boasberg merely rubber stamp the requested gag order, or was he willfully blind?”
Luther also noted, “DOJ policy does not supplant federal law.” Cruz’s scrutiny underscores potential abuses in the justice system, particularly when senators enjoy constitutional protections from such intrusions.
Smith defended the actions as “entirely proper,” and courts clarified that Boasberg wasn’t informed the targets were Congress members, but Cruz’s principled stand draws attention to what he sees as a troubling pattern of unchecked judicial power in politically charged cases.
Boardman’s Sentencing Sparks Cruz’s Criticism of Leniency
Equally concerning to Cruz was Judge Deborah Boardman, a Biden appointee, who in 2025 sentenced Sophie Roske—previously known as Nicholas Roske—to just eight years for the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, far below the 30 years sought by the Department of Justice.
Boardman cited Roske’s transgender identity and personal hardships as mitigating factors in the downward deviation.
Cruz lambasted this decision, pointing out Democratic inconsistencies on judicial violence, saying, “My Democrat colleagues on this committee do not get to give great speeches about how opposed they are to violence against the judiciary, and, at the same time, cheer on a judge saying, ‘Well, if you attempt to murder a Supreme Court justice, and you happen to be transgender, not a problem. We’re going to deviate downward by more than two decades.'”
Democrats, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, pushed back, accusing Republicans of intimidating judges over unfavorable rulings against the Trump administration, with Whitehouse remarking, “There was a time when I’d have hoped a Senate Judiciary subcommittee would not be roped into a scheme to amplify pressure and threats against a sitting federal judge. But here we are.”
A House Judiciary Committee spokesman indicated “everything is on the table” for potential action, aligning with Cruz’s efforts to rally support and protect institutional integrity in the face of perceived judicial biases.
