On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, over 900 former Justice Department lawyers signed a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee urging a thorough review of Emil Bove III’s nomination for a judgeship on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
The letter, addressed to Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member Dick Durbin, and other committee members, raised concerns about Bove’s actions during his tenure as a senior Justice Department official under the Trump administration.
The former attorneys highlighted allegations of misconduct by Bove. They pointed to a whistleblower disclosure by Erez Reuveni, a former senior DOJ attorney, which detailed Bove’s alleged involvement in defying court orders. Reuveni, who litigated high-profile cases during the Trump administration, claimed that Bove’s actions compromised the department’s integrity, leading to Reuveni’s termination after he refused to violate his ethical duty to the court.
The letter cited contemporaneous communications among DOJ attorneys to support Reuveni’s claims, emphasizing that such behavior, if verified, should disqualify Bove from a judicial position. It also noted that Bove’s conduct reportedly disrupted institutional norms, causing low morale, significant staff departures, and diminished effectiveness in the department’s operations. The signatories argued that these issues raise questions about Bove’s impartiality, a critical quality for a federal judge.
Additionally, the letter addressed Bove’s actions related to the January 6 Capitol assault investigations. It alleged that Bove targeted attorneys who pursued justice in those cases, referencing a memorandum he issued as Acting Deputy Attorney General on January 31, 2025, to the FBI’s Acting Director. The former DOJ lawyers expressed concern that Bove’s nomination could undermine public trust in the justice system.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a nomination hearing for Bove in June 2025, where Senator Adam Schiff questioned him about these allegations. In a statement, Schiff said, “it is clearer today than it has ever been: Emil Bove has not been honest with the Senate Judiciary Committee or the American people. He lacks the judgement, temperament, and integrity to serve as an arbiter of our nation’s laws. He is patently unfit to serve as a federal judge.”
Signatories, including former U.S. Attorneys, trial attorneys, and senior counsels from various DOJ divisions, called for a rigorous examination of Bove’s record to ensure the judiciary’s integrity.
“We ask that you vote your conscience only after thoroughly and honestly investigating Mr. Bove’s actions at the Justice Department, including by questioning current and former DOJ employees with information relevant to the aforementioned incidents and others,” the letter said. “We also urge you to zealously exercise your oversight powers to protect the Justice Department against further attacks.”
