Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wants an ethics investigation into the federal judge in former President Donald Trump's Washington case.
The congresswoman submitted the ethics complaint on Friday, calling the judge's efforts politically motivated.
.@RepStefanik demands ethics inquiry into DC judge ahead of Trump election interference trial https://t.co/QoFesUFUnW https://t.co/QoFesUFUnW
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 15, 2023
“I write today to express my serious concerns about, and request an ethics investigation of, DC U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell for her highly inappropriate political speech she gave last month, at which she suggested reelecting President Trump will lead to fascism in America,” Stefanik wrote.
“Judge Howell’s partisan speech is obviously highly inappropriate election interference by a federal judge that undermines the public’s trust in our courts," she added.
Stefanik hits DC judge linked to Trump case with ethics complaint https://t.co/v86bPp0UTT
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) December 15, 2023
"Howell was chief judge of the DC District Court from 2016 until March of this year. On her last day of the job, she turned over communications between Trump and his lawyer to Special Counsel Jack Smith in his investigation of the former president’s handling of classified documents, the Daily Beast reported in March," Fox News reported.
"She also compelled the lawyer to testify before a grand jury. She has also criticized federal prosecutors for being too lenient in sentencing recommendations for Jan. 6 protesters," it continued.
New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is alleging judicial misconduct by a federal judge who has overseen various Jan. 6-related cases.https://t.co/UFXQXaWi7j
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) December 15, 2023
"[Howell] promoted the Democrat political campaign theme that the reelection of Donald Trump equates to America choosing authoritarianism," Stefanik said in her complaint.
"More than 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the Capitol. More than 700 have pleaded guilty to federal charges, according to the Department of Justice," it noted.
The move also comes as Trump's gag order appeal in his New York fraud case was turned down, further pushing against the former president in what many view as political attacks.
Stefanik has served as a strong pro-Trump supporter who was appointed to House leadership during his term.
The congresswoman has now made another move in a sign of help to Trump, hoping to make an impact in his Washington case against him as he campaigns to return to the White House again next year in a potential rematch against President Joe Biden.
