(New York) “Goon”. “HEAD MAN”. “Executor”. Usually, these words do not apply to federal judges of the United States, and even less to those who sit at the Supreme Court. However, they define Emil Bove, according to his criticism.
Who is Emil Bove? On May 28, Donald Trump appointed this former federal prosecutor, who was also one of his criminal lawyers, to the important United States Court of Appeal for the 3rde circuit. This remarkable promotion could lead the native of Geneva, in New York State, at the Supreme Court. More than 80 judges oppose it1.
What is Emil Bove this promotion? And does she announce a new criterion of appointment to federal magistracy, namely total loyalty to Donald Trump?
The American Senate will offer the start of an answer to the second question shortly, during a vote to confirm or block the appointment of Emil Bove.
But before going further on this subject, let’s dwell on the first question.
Emil Bove, 44, participated in the defense of Donald Trump in three of the four criminal cases that targeted him, including that bearing the name of Stormy Daniels.
Today, it is number three in the Department of Justice, behind two other former lawyers for Donald Trump: Todd Blanche, number two, and Pam Bondi, the United States General Prosecutor.
It is in its current role that Emil Bove was dealt with all names, and not only by Democrats. Recently, the conservative lawyer Ed Whelan signed an article entitled “The henchman of the Ministry of Justice”. He expressed “serious doubts about the fact that Bove has the character and integrity necessary to deserve to be confirmed as a federal judge”.
A ” Fuck You ” controversial
“I am the person of person. I am not an executor. I am a lawyer for a small town, who did not expect to end up in a similar arena, “said Emil Bove during his hearing before the Senate judicial commission on June 25.
Here are three facts, confirmed or alleged, concerning the recent assessment of Emil Bove, a graduate of the law school of Georgetown University, which spent most of his professional life in the big city in New York.
– He orchestrated the dismissal of more than 20 federal prosecutors and responsible for the FBI who participated in the surveys or the proceedings against Donald Trump or the rioters of the 6 – January.
– He ordered the abandonment of the corruption accusations targeting the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, as part of a bargaining which pushed nine federal prosecutors to resign.
– He encouraged a group of lawyers from the Ministry of Justice to say “go and fuck” (Fuck You) to the courts that would dare to block the expulsions of migrants wanted by Donald Trump.
According to a whistleblower, this declaration was made on March 14. The next day, the Trump administration disobeyed the order of a Washington judge prohibiting any theft of Venezuelan migrants to Salvador.
During his hearing before the Judicial Commission, Emil Bove said on several occasions that he did not remember having encouraged his subordinates to say ” Fuck You In the courts.
This evasive response and others of the same water, which contradicted the documented allegations of the whistleblower, indignant the Democratic Senator of Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse. After the hearing of Emil Bove, the latter said he had the impression of seeing a famous scene from the Godfather II.
He was referring to the testimony of Frank Pentangeli, alias “Frankie Five Angels”, this supposedly repentant mafia who suddenly remembers nothing in front of a Senate commission which expects him to denounce Vito Corleone.
“More loyal to the president”
“Emil is intelligent, hard and respected by everyone,” wrote Donald Trump, announcing his choice on Truth Social. “It will put an end to the instrumentalization of justice, will restore the rule of law and will do everything necessary to return its greatness to America. »»
Emil Bove did not appear on the list of potential candidates for the federal magistracy of the Federalist Society, the conservative organization which inspired Donald Trump his choices since 2017, including the three judges he appointed to the Supreme Court.
His appointment probably marks a turning point in the way the president will choose his candidates for the federal magistracy. And for more than one reason.
“Bove is more conservative ideologically. But he is also more loyal to the president, ”explains Carl Tobias, professor of law at the University of Richmond, Virginia.
The other difference lies in the fact that, unlike most of Trump’s previous candidates during appeal lessons, it does not seem to have the temperament that is expected of a judge, that is to say that it is neutral, impassive and attached to the rule of law.
Carl Tobias, professor of law at the University of Richmond, in Virginia
The temperament of Emil Bove has not only posed a problem within the Department of Justice. The office of the federal prosecutor in Manhattan, for which he worked from 2012 to 2021, almost downgraded it after complaints formulated by defense lawyers and by his own colleagues who reproached him for an intimate behavior.
Despite everything, the Republicans of the Senate Judicial Commission recommended unanimously last week the confirmation of the choice of Donald Trump. The latter, according to the Democratic Senator of New Jersey Cory Booker and other Democrats, would nourish the secret hope of offering his former lawyer a springboard to the Supreme Court.
“There is no vacation at the Supreme Court and I don’t think someone will retire soon,” said Professor Tobias. But people like Booker and other Democrats are very worried that Trump wants to appoint Bove to the Supreme Court. And I don’t think they are wrong. »»
1. Read the letter signed by more than 80 former judges and addressed to the members of the Senate Judicial Commission (in English)
