Emil Bove, a Trump judicial nominee, may have misled the Senate during his confirmation hearing, according to evidence presented by a whistleblower to The Washington Post. The report led two Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to ask the Justice Department’s watchdog to look into the allegations.
President Donald Trump nominated Bove, his former attorney and a top Justice Department (DOJ) official, in June to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals — a lifetime appointment. Bove’s nomination process has moved faster than is typical.
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What evidence did the whistleblower present?
The whistleblower allegedly shared evidence that contradicted Bove’s testimony about his handling of the public corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to the report published Tuesday. However, The Post did not specify what the evidence contained.
Multiple senators, including Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, reviewed the whistleblower’s evidence. The individual allegedly also offered the evidence to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who is not seeking reelection. Tillis had not responded to the request, according to The Post.
Booker and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., sent a letter to the DOJ’s top watchdog asking for a review of the evidence, according to Politico.
“In the event these whistleblower complaints and other reports have not already prompted investigations by your office, we urge you to undertake a thorough review of these disclosures and allegations,” the senators wrote.
Booker and Schiff also said the Senate needed to have “full knowledge” of the evidence before Bove’s final confirmation vote.
Additional whistleblower allegations
The new whistleblower allegations come after additional reports that Bove told U.S. Department of Justice officials to ignore a judge’s order not to deport unauthorized migrants to El Salvador. Leaked emails and texts from whistleblower and former DOJ lawyer Erez Reuveni, released during the week of July 7, claimed Bove advised DOJ attorneys that it was okay to take the prisoners off the plane in El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.
Bove’s credentials were also called into question by a group of more than 900 former Department of Justice attorneys, who asked Senate Judiciary Committee members to take more time before voting on his nomination.
