House Conservatives Revive Boasberg Impeachment After Speaker Johnson Signals Support for Targeting 'Activist' Judges
Speaker Mike Johnson signaled he would support impeachments of “activist” judges, explicitly naming Judge James Boasberg, prompting House conservatives to revive impeachment efforts, add co-sponsors and coordinate with Johnson’s team. The White House has likewise embraced impeaching judges it calls “rogue,” linking that backing to the Senate Judiciary inquiry into Boasberg and Deborah Boardman, while GOP leaders say the push supplements—not replaces—earlier legislation to curb nationwide injunctions.
📌 Key Facts
- A White House official told Fox News Digital the administration “fully embraces impeachment efforts” targeting what it called “left-wing, activist judges,” tying that support to the ongoing Senate Judiciary Committee impeachment inquiry into U.S. District Judges James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman and arguing judges who issue “plainly illegal” or partisan rulings forfeit their impartiality and warrant impeachment to allow President Trump to “lawfully implement” his agenda.
- Speaker Mike Johnson publicly shifted from favoring statutory limits on nationwide injunctions to saying “I’m for it” regarding impeaching judges, explicitly naming Judge James Boasberg.
- House conservatives say they will press to move forward on at least one impeachment—likely Boasberg: Rep. Andy Ogles said Johnson “is still in support” after a floor conversation, and Rep. Brandon Gill reported his Boasberg impeachment resolution picked up two GOP co-sponsors and that his office is in active contact with Johnson’s team.
- The reporting recaps that Rep. Andy Ogles previously filed impeachment articles against Judges John Bates and Theodore Chuang over rulings related to Trump-era transgender-recognition and DOGE foreign-aid matters, but those efforts stalled last year.
- House GOP leaders had earlier preferred Darrell Issa’s bill curbing nationwide injunctions (passed last year); Fox reports that legislative limits on injunctions are now being supplemented, not replaced, by renewed impeachment talk.
- The renewed impeachment push and White House backing represent a coordinated escalation from some conservatives and the administration aimed at targeting judges they view as issuing partisan or legally improper rulings.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 23, 2026
3:52 PM
SCOOP: House Republicans revive push to impeach 'activist' judges after Johnson's green light
New information:
- Speaker Mike Johnson publicly shifted from favoring only statutory limits on nationwide injunctions to saying 'I'm for it' regarding impeachment of judges, explicitly naming Judge James Boasberg.
- Rep. Andy Ogles says Johnson 'is still in support' after a floor conversation and that conservatives will push to move forward on at least one impeachment, likely Boasberg.
- Rep. Brandon Gill reports his Boasberg impeachment resolution gained two new GOP co-sponsors after Johnson’s remarks, and says his office is in active contact with Johnson’s team about the measure.
- Article recaps Ogles’ previously filed impeachment articles against Judges John Bates and Theodore Chuang over rulings on Trump transgender-recognition and DOGE foreign-aid crackdowns, which stalled last year.
- Fox reports House GOP leaders had earlier preferred Darrell Issa’s bill curbing nationwide injunctions—passed last year—but that this approach is now being supplemented, not replaced, by renewed impeachment talk.
January 22, 2026
2:03 PM
SCOOP: White House backs impeaching 'rogue' judges accused of partisan rulings
New information:
- A White House official, speaking to Fox News Digital, says the administration "fully embraces impeachment efforts" against "left-wing, activist judges" they say have gone "totally rogue."
- The White House ties its support directly to the ongoing Senate Judiciary Committee impeachment inquiry into U.S. District Judges James Boasberg (D.D.C.) and Deborah Boardman (D. Md.).
- Officials argue judges who repeatedly issue "plainly illegal" or partisan rulings to advance or undermine a political party "forfeit their impartiality" and warrant impeachment, framing this as necessary for Trump to "lawfully implement" his agenda.
January 21, 2026