American Oversight Urges Senate to Reject Emil Bove’s Judicial Nomination, Renews Call for Misconduct Probe Amid Damning New Whistleblower Allegations
New allegations that Bove suggested defying court orders to speed deportations, even telling DOJ employees to tell the courts "f— you," point to an alarming attack on the rule of law.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday on Emil Bove’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, American Oversight is renewing its call for New York authorities to investigate serious allegations of professional misconduct and urging senators to oppose his confirmation, citing damning new whistleblower allegations that Bove — President Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer and now a top Department of Justice official — suggested defying federal court orders, even instructing DOJ employees to tell courts “f— you,” to speed deportations as part of a broader effort to mislead judges and circumvent legal constraints.
“The latest whistleblower allegations make clear that Emil Bove didn’t just cross ethical lines — he bulldozed them,” said Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight. “Instructing DOJ lawyers — officers of the court — to say ‘f— you’ to federal courts isn’t just vulgar, it’s a direct attack on the rule of law. Congress and New York authorities must stop shirking their responsibilities. The public deserves accountability, not silence in the face of serial professional misconduct. As such, we are renewing our call for accountability and urge the Senate to reject his nomination to the federal bench.”
Renewing Call for Professional Misconduct Investigation
In February, American Oversight filed a disciplinary complaint asking New York authorities to investigate potential professional misconduct by Bove for his role overseeing and directing the corrupt dismissal of criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The complaint, sent to the Attorney Grievance Committee in New York, where Bove is a member of the state bar, outlines how Bove’s pursuit of the dismissal — reportedly achieved by threatening to fire subordinate attorneys, and by claiming the dismissal was appropriate in light of Adams’ political cooperation with the Trump administration — appears to have violated several sections of New York’s rules governing attorney ethics and professional conduct.
In late May, the Attorney Grievance Committee in New York responded to American Oversight’s request by referring it to the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility and stating that the committee would take no action itself. In light of the damning new whistleblower allegations against Bove and because the committee is ultimately responsible for governing the conduct of attorneys licensed in New York, the nonprofit watchdog will be seeking reconsideration of the committee’s refusal to take action on its request for an investigation into Bove’s potential professional misconduct.
Damning Whisteblower Allegations
In a detailed whistleblower complaint submitted to Congress and the DOJ inspector general, longtime Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni alleged that Bove suggested defying federal court orders to expedite deportations under the Alien Enemies Act — explicitly stating the DOJ should consider telling courts “f— you” if injunctions were issued.
Reuveni, who had just been promoted and had previously defended controversial Trump-era immigration policies, said DOJ and White House officials engaged in a coordinated effort to ignore or misrepresent facts in court, mislead judges, and conceal information to facilitate deportations, including a case in which more than 100 Venezuelans were removed despite legal orders to the contrary.
He described being directed to support false claims — such as labeling one deportee a terrorist without evidence — and was ultimately fired after refusing, stating, “I didn’t sign up to lie.” His account, which includes contemporaneous emails and messages, outlines three separate court violations and a broader culture of political pressure and ethical breaches at the highest levels of DOJ leadership.