A major controversy has arisen around Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official and a nominee for a judgeship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Whistleblower claims, supported by newly released internal emails and text messages, suggest that the Trump administration has had discussions and taken actions that show a lack of respect for court rulings, particularly concerning immigration policies.
This issue has raised serious concerns as the Senate Judiciary Committee gets ready to vote on Bove’s nomination. The main allegations come from Erez Reuveni, a former career Justice Department lawyer who was fired earlier this year. Reuveni lost his job after informing a judge that the administration had wrongly deported an immigrant, breaking a court order. Last month, Reuveni sent a detailed, twenty-seven-page whistleblower letter to the Judiciary Committee.
According to Politico, Reuveni stated that Emil Bove was heavily involved in talks about possibly ignoring court orders. Reuveni specifically claimed that Bove suggested the Justice Department might have to tell the courts a crude phrase in response to orders that could interfere with the administration’s deportation plans.
Trump administration may not care what judges rule
The release of a large number of internal messages has given weight to Reuveni’s story. The newly revealed emails and texts appear to back up his account, showing real-time discussions and growing concern among Justice Department lawyers. These messages suggest that some officials worried they could face penalties for misleading the courts, given the administration’s actions.
Emil Bove has denied ever telling anyone to disobey court orders. At his confirmation hearing on June 25, he firmly stated that he never suggested ignoring judicial rulings. He claimed that at the time of the alleged conversation, there were no court orders to discuss. However, Bove did not clearly deny using the crude phrase, saying he did not remember.
A key moment in these messages involves a confrontation that happened on March 15. That day, lawyers for immigrant rights convinced federal Judge James Boasberg in Washington to issue an order stopping the deportation of 130 Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador. Judge Boasberg’s order explicitly stated that planes carrying these individuals, whom the Trump administration had labeled as “alien enemies” under a wartime law, should be turned around if needed. The order also said that under no circumstances should the men be handed over to the Salvadoran government.
Before Judge Boasberg’s ruling, Justice Department officials reportedly worried that a court might block their deportation plans. It was during this time that Reuveni claims Bove made the controversial remark about telling the court “f*** you.” After Boasberg’s decision, Reuveni sent a text to a coworker that seemed to refer to Bove’s alleged comment. The coworker’s reply hinted that a high-ranking Justice Department lawyer would be the one to follow through with such an instruction.
The messages also show Reuveni repeatedly telling his colleagues, in the hours after Boasberg’s ruling, that the immigrants covered by the court order should not be sent to El Salvador. Later, he expressed concern that despite these warnings, the individuals appeared to have been transferred anyway.
An email from Yaakov Roth, the acting head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, suggests that letting the immigrants off the plane was allowed based on Bove’s legal advice. Bove reportedly argued it was acceptable because the flights had left U.S. airspace before Judge Boasberg issued a written order, even though he had already given an oral directive.
Published: Jul 10, 2025 02:53 pm