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By Gabe Whisnant
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A senior Justice Department (DOJ) official under President Donald Trump suggested that the administration might need to ignore court orders in its effort to deport Venezuelan migrants it labeled as gang members, according to a whistleblower complaint made public Tuesday.
The complaint, filed by former DOJ lawyer Erez Reuveni, centers on comments allegedly made by Principal Assistant Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove. According to Reuveni, Bove raised concerns that courts might block the deportations, prompting him to say the Department should consider telling the courts "f*** you" and to "ignore any such order."
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When reached for comment via email on Tuesday, the DOJ directed Newsweek to comments made by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who strongly denied the claims in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling them "utterly false." Blanche added that he was present at the March meeting and insisted, "At no time did anyone suggest a court order should not be followed."
Why It Matters
Trump nominated Bove, one of his own personal attorneys, last month to fill a seat on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Bove's nomination has already drawn scrutiny over his involvement in several controversial actions, including dismissing a corruption case involving New York Mayor Eric Adams and accusing FBI officials of "insubordination" during the Capitol riot investigation.
What To Know
In a letter requesting investigations by both Congress and the Justice Department's watchdog, Reuveni alleges he was removed from his post and disparaged after opposing legal strategies that included making false or unfounded claims in court. The most serious charge involves a March DOJ meeting held after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act in response to what he described as an "invasion" by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The whistleblower filing states, "Mr. Reuveni was stunned by Bove's statement because, to Mr. Reuveni's knowledge, no one in DOJ leadership – in any Administration – had ever suggested the Department of Justice could blatantly ignore court orders, especially with" an expletive.
The allegations were first reported by The New York Times.
Reuveni, who served nearly 15 years at DOJ under both Republican and Democratic administrations, had been promoted during Trump's previous term to acting deputy director of the Office of Immigration Litigation.
His termination followed a courtroom concession in April that a Salvadoran man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, should not have been deported to El Salvador and complaints over lack of transparency in the administration's actions. Reuveni refused to sign an appeal brief in that case, calling it "contrary to law, frivolous, and untrue."
What People Are Saying
Blanche also accused the media of misconduct on X, "Planting a false hit piece the day before a confirmation hearing is something we have come to expect from the media, but it does not mean it should be tolerated."
In their letter, Reuveni's lawyers warned, "The consequences of DOJ's actions Mr. Reuveni reports have grave impacts not only for the safety of individuals removed from the country in violation of court orders, but also for the constitutional rights and protections of all persons — citizen and noncitizen alike."
Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, said Tuesday, "These allegations are part of a broader pattern by President Trump and his allies to undermine the Justice Department's commitment to the rule of law." He added, "I want to thank Mr. Reuveni for exercising his right to speak up... And I implore my Senate Republican colleagues: do not turn a blind eye to the dire consequences of confirming Mr. Bove."
What Happens Next
Bove is scheduled to appear Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing to become a federal appeals court judge.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Update: 6/24/25, 1:10 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 6/24/25, 2:26 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and remarks.
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