Republican lawmakers in the House are preparing impeachment proceedings against U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg following revelations that he and Judge Beryl Howell authorized nearly 200 sealed subpoenas under former Special Counsel Jack Smith. Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) announced Thursday that he is drafting articles of impeachment, while Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) also expressed support for the move. The subpoenas—197 in total—reportedly targeted more than 430 Republican individuals, organizations, and donors in a probe known as “Arctic Frost.”
According to The National Pulse, the investigation sought information from telecom companies, political vendors, and financial institutions connected to Trump-aligned PACs. Disclosure orders signed by Boasberg and Howell barred companies from notifying affected lawmakers, prompting criticism that the judiciary had enabled political surveillance. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) condemned the effort as a “fishing expedition” against Republicans. Gill accused Boasberg of “weaponizing his judicial authority” and “spying on Republican senators,” calling him unfit for office. Boasberg, an Obama appointee serving as chief judge for the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., has previously drawn conservative ire for rulings against Trump administration policies.
Separately, Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has introduced a resolution to remove Boasberg under Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution, arguing that judges serve only “during good behavior” rather than for life. Biggs contends Boasberg exceeded his judicial authority by blocking the Trump administration from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members, an order he claims interfered with presidential powers. His resolution accuses Boasberg of abusing judicial discretion and undermining the president’s constitutional role in national security and foreign policy.