DOJ Whistleblower Alleges Court Nominee Proposed Ignoring Orders in Trump Deportation Case

A whistleblower report released on Tuesday reveals serious allegations against Emil Bove, President Donald Trump’s nominee for a key appellate court position. According to the report, Bove suggested that the Justice Department might need to ignore a federal court’s orders to fulfill the administration’s mass deportation agenda.

Bove, currently the principal associate deputy attorney general, allegedly advised the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that it could proceed with deportation flights to El Salvador despite a court order barring such actions. The accusations originated from Erez Reuveni, a former attorney at the Justice Department who was dismissed in April.

Reuveni’s testimony highlights a lawsuit initiated in March, which challenged the Trump administration’s push to deport five Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg had issued a restraining order mandating that any deportation flights return to the U.S. However, Reuveni states that the Justice Department misled the court regarding the status of these flights.

During a March 16 hearing, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign claimed he was unsure of the flight schedule, despite being present in a meeting where Bove reportedly stated that deportation flights would continue “no matter what.” This discussion raised concerns about a blatant disregard for judicial authority.

As the restraining order loomed, Reuveni and a colleague even joked about the potential repercussions of reporting Bove’s comments, fearing dismissal for raising concerns about compliance with the order. Bove reportedly advised DHS that deplaning migrants already flown to El Salvador would not violate the court order.

Initially, Bove intended to file a notice to clarify that deplaning would not breach the restraining order, but the report indicates that this notice was never submitted. Reuveni was dismissed following his actions related to a different immigration case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported, who was later allowed to return to face charges linked to human trafficking.

In response to the whistleblower report, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected the claims as unfounded, labeling them as the fabrications of a disgruntled ex-employee. He emphasized that he attended the meetings in question, asserting that nothing inappropriate was suggested.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin addressed the allegations, calling them serious and indicative of Bove’s ethical failings. Durbin cautioned fellow Senate Republicans to consider the implications of confirming Bove to a lifetime judicial position, amid ongoing concerns about the Justice Department’s commitment to upholding the law.

Bove’s controversial history includes directing federal prosecutors to withdraw corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, leading to the resignation of seven prosecutors in protest. The Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing for Bove, who is slated to testify before the panel on Wednesday.

Trump nominated Bove for the Third Circuit last month, publicly assuring that he would “never let you down” on the federal bench and describing him as “smart” and “tough.”