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The GOP Is Destroying Justice to Embolden Trump's Lawlessness The American Prospect
Since returning to office, Donald Trump has been repeatedly blocked by judges ruling against his most extreme actions: unconstitutional impoundments of congressionally appropriated funds, illegal purges of civil servants, and executive orders attacking law firms that don’t accede to his arbitrary and capricious demands.
When Trump illegally deported over 200 Venezuelan immigrants last month and judges sought to stop him, House Republicans finally raced to act. But instead of joining the call for the protection of civil liberties and due process, GOP representatives opted to defend their leader. They didn’t merely engage in criticism of a judge’s decision; they made a direct challenge to the judiciary’s legitimacy and its power to constrain the president.
Within days, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced articles of impeachment targeting D.C. Circuit Chief Judge James Boasberg, who had attempted to block the illegal deportations. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced legislation to constrain the jurisdiction of district courts by limiting nationwide injunctions. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) floated the idea that Congress could cut funding for the federal judiciary, and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) said, “All options are still on the table.” At a Judiciary Committee hearing, framed as an inquiry into the “weaponization” of law, Republicans didn’t concern themselves with the lawlessness of the deportations, but instead attacked “activist” judges standing in Trump’s way.
The House GOP’s escalating attacks on the federal judiciary are part of a deliberate and dangerous campaign to enable Donald Trump to act as president without limit. The GOP-led House is clearing a path for Trump to undermine the only institution that currently stands against his many openly illegal activities: the courts.
When Trump illegally deported over 200 Venezuelan immigrants last month and judges sought to stop him, House Republicans finally raced to act. But instead of joining the call for the protection of civil liberties and due process, GOP representatives opted to defend their leader. They didn’t merely engage in criticism of a judge’s decision; they made a direct challenge to the judiciary’s legitimacy and its power to constrain the president.
Within days, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced articles of impeachment targeting D.C. Circuit Chief Judge James Boasberg, who had attempted to block the illegal deportations. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced legislation to constrain the jurisdiction of district courts by limiting nationwide injunctions. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) floated the idea that Congress could cut funding for the federal judiciary, and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) said, “All options are still on the table.” At a Judiciary Committee hearing, framed as an inquiry into the “weaponization” of law, Republicans didn’t concern themselves with the lawlessness of the deportations, but instead attacked “activist” judges standing in Trump’s way.
The House GOP’s escalating attacks on the federal judiciary are part of a deliberate and dangerous campaign to enable Donald Trump to act as president without limit. The GOP-led House is clearing a path for Trump to undermine the only institution that currently stands against his many openly illegal activities: the courts.
https://prospect.org/justice/2025-04-23-gop-destroying-justice-embolden-trumps-lawlessnes/
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