On Monday, February 24, 2025, Reuters reported that a second federal judge is facing a Republican-led impeachment effort following a ruling against former President Donald Trump’s administration. Representative Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, announced that he has filed a resolution seeking the removal of U.S. District Judge John Bates, based in Washington, D.C.

The impeachment bid stems from a ruling issued by Bates, which ordered the Trump administration to restore government health websites that had been taken down as part of an executive order aimed at eliminating what was termed “gender ideology extremism.” Ogles’ resolution claims that Bates did not adequately consider that the removed webpages contained information regarding gender-affirming care. The resolution argues that the “continued socialization of this grave moral evil necessitates immediate action against those who would promote it.”

The process of impeaching a federal judge is laid out in the U.S. Constitution, which states that grounds for impeachment include treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. For a judge to be removed from office, the House of Representatives must pass articles of impeachment by a simple majority. Following that, the Senate must convict the judge with at least a two-thirds majority vote. Although Republicans currently control both the House and the Senate, they do not possess a two-thirds majority in the Senate, making the success of this impeachment bid unlikely.

Despite the slim chances of success, a faction of House Republicans has been increasingly vocal in their calls to impeach judges who rule contrary to Trump’s agenda. Ogles’ resolution against Bates is part of a broader movement, as another resolution has already been filed against U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan. Engelmayer had recently issued a temporary injunction preventing the Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, from accessing U.S. Treasury systems crucial for managing trillions of dollars in payments.

Musk has publicly supported the impeachment of Judge Bates, stating on social media that it is time to hold judges accountable for perceived legal violations. The increasing scrutiny and calls for impeachment from Republican lawmakers have raised concerns among legal experts and advocacy groups. Critics argue that such actions against judges could be seen as an attempt to intimidate the judiciary.

John Collins, a law professor at George Washington University, expressed strong disapproval of the impeachment efforts, calling them inappropriate and indicative of a problematic trend.

The ruling made by Judge Bates was linked to a lawsuit filed by Doctors for America, a medical advocacy group that argued the abrupt removal of health-related websites by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hindered efforts to combat disease. The judge’s decision on February 11 mandated that the federal government restore the pages, which had been taken down following an executive order signed by Trump on January 20. This order directed federal agencies to recognize only two biological sexes, male and female.

The decision prompted a backlash from Trump’s supporters, including Musk, who characterized Bates as “corrupt” and “evil,” urging for his impeachment. Ogles’ resolution also alleges that Bates, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, has demonstrated a lack of intellectual honesty and integrity, which they claim constitutes high crimes and misdemeanors.

 

 

Source: Reuters