Senator Kim Continues to Sound Alarm that Emil Bove is Unfit for the Federal Bench

WASHINGTON, D.C.–This week,Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ)andRichard Blumenthal (D-CT)sent a letter to Senator Rand Paul, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, requesting the committee exercise its oversight capacity of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its role in defying a court order against deporting 137 Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador at the request of Emil Bove, President Trump’s nominee to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
The senators write:“The allegations, corroborated by evidence the whistleblower provided on July 1 and 7, 2025, raise alarming concerns that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) carried out orders at the behest of Mr. Bove, who sought to defy the court in violation of his professional ethical obligations as well his oath to protect and defend the Constitution.”
Text of Full Letter (PDF)
The letter was sent ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to advance Mr. Bove’s nomination and expected floor vote on his confirmation next week. The Senators outline details of the allegations against Mr. Bove and his track record of evading questions on these allegations during his disclosures to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senators conclude by emphasizing the need“to hold the Department and Mr. Bove accountable for their roles in willfully ignoring the court’s explicit order to cease deportations to a prison in a third country notorious for human rights abuses.”
Senator Kim has previously expressedhis oppositionto Emil Bove’s nomination. In a letter of testimony for the record to the Judiciary Committee opposing Mr. Bove’s nomination, he raised concerns aboutMr. Bove’s decision to dismiss serious charges of corruption against New York’s Mayor Eric Adamsearlier this year, as well as raised concerns aboutMr. Bove’s loyalty to Trump, and not the law, which will impede judgement when deciding cases and will call into question the neutrality of the 3rd circuit. In a joint statement with fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker,the pair stated:“The people of New Jersey deserve a federal judge that will observe judicial independence and work to preserve and secure justice for all. Based on his record, Emil Bove will not do that.”
Before being elected to the U.S. Senate, Kim represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House and was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. Learn more about Senator Kim’s service on behalf of New Jerseyhere.

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