It is a least to say remarkable conflict that is unfolding between the executive and judicial powers in the USA. In a rare statement, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, who is usually described as conservative, rejects the calls to put a federal judge on trial.
It has been established for over two centuries that impeachment is not a suitable response to disagreements regarding a judicial decision, says John Roberts.
That is why the normal appeal process exists.
The background is the noted deportations of over 200 alleged gang members to El Salvador last weekend. The deportations took place after Donald Trump invoked a war law from 1798 to be able to deport undocumented migrants. A federal judge had stopped the deportations, which were still carried out – according to the US Customs and Border Protection chief Tom Homan because the planes with the migrants were already in international waters.
James Boasberg, the federal judge who ordered the two planes to turn back, ended up in Trump's crosshairs on Tuesday.
"This judge should, just like many other scoundrels among the judges I am forced to face, be put on trial", Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Chief Justice John Roberts was appointed by President George W Bush and has been sitting on the Supreme Court since 2005.
