Emil Bove: Trump’s Politically Corrupt Lawyer Up for Appeals Court Seat

Emil Bove, best known as Donald Trump’s legal fixer and enabler of some of the most controversial legal arguments, is now up for a lifetime seat in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 

Bove’s record reveals a pattern of putting loyalty to one man above loyalty to the law. So much so that even conservative legal experts oppose Bove. 

The Society for the Rule of Law, which had never opposed a judicial nominee before, is urging rejection of his nomination. In a letter written to members of the Judiciary committee, they wrote, Bove's willingness to "undermine the integrity and capabilities of federal law enforcement" is "unthinkable in a federal judge."  

Bove’s History of Putting Politics Over the Rule of Law 

From openly defying court authority to brokering backroom deals that undermined public corruption cases, Bove has repeatedly put partisan allegiance over the Constitution. 

Bove has been accused of urging officials to defy lawful court orders – showing a “flippant disregard for the rule of law” that disqualifies anyone from being a judge. He has abused his power to protect political allies and punish those seeking justice, undermining the very principles of integrity and accountability that all Americans hold dear. 

Emil Bove has shown a troubling willingness to defy court orders and undermine judicial authority. A DOJ whistleblower reported that Bove suggested the Department should tell courts to "f--- you" and ignore legal court orders in immigration cases. 

Rather than serving as an impartial prosecutor, Bove acted as Trump's "enforcer" at the DOJ. He dropped a corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams in exchange for political cooperation, causing eight career prosecutors to resign in protest. 

The Wall Street Journal even warned that, "Bove's reputation is as a smashmouth partisan who wields the law as a weapon.”

History of Legal Misconduct 

Bove's record is marred by ethical violations. In a terrorism case, his team hid critical evidence from the defense and lied to the court. Bove's own text messages show him admitting to a "flat lie" to a judge.

He even joked about getting "cocaine" for a colleague to push an unethical prosecution forward.

Dangerous Temperament 

Colleagues describe Bove as "completely reckless and out of control," lacking respect for others. When complaints were filed against him, he proudly displayed them on his wall as a "badge of honor."

Undermining Law Enforcement

Bove targeted FBI agents and career prosecutors for doing their jobs—investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol. He demanded the names of agents involved in the investigation and pushed for the removal of top FBI officials, claiming that holding violent rioters accountable was somehow unjust. 

Bove’s actions didn’t just disrupt investigations—they undermined the very people charged with protecting our communities. He orchestrated the firing of veteran prosecutors in the middle of active cases against insurrectionists, further weakening efforts to deliver justice. 

Timeline of Troubling Behavior

2023-2025: Trump's Personal Attorney

As Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Emil Bove played a central role in three major criminal cases—the Manhattan hush money case, the federal election interference prosecution, and the classified documents trial. In each, Bove advanced sweeping legal arguments, including unprecedented claims that Trump was immune from prosecution simply because he had been elected president again. He even argued that Trump’s conviction should be voided to prevent “impediments” to his ability to govern, drawing sharp criticism for attempting to create a two-tiered justice system—one for powerful political allies, and one for everyone else.

January 2025: DOJ Corruption

Shortly after returning to the Department of Justice as Acting Deputy Attorney General under Trump, Bove orchestrated the dismissal of a federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The charges included bribery, campaign finance violations, and conspiracy. Bove brokered a corrupt deal, dropping the case in exchange for Adams’s cooperation with Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. The move triggered mass resignations from senior career prosecutors, including the Acting U.S. Attorney in Manhattan. A federal judge, disturbed by the political interference, dismissed the case "with prejudice"—barring it from ever being revived.

January 2025: Mass Firings

Bove led a mass firing of career DOJ attorneys who had prosecuted January 6th rioters. He demanded the names of FBI agents involved in the investigations and accused them of “weaponizing” justice against Trump supporters. In a memo, Bove described the prosecutions as a “grave national injustice”—an extraordinary reversal from his own prior stance labeling January 6 as an act of domestic terrorism. 

March 2025: Court Defiance

According to a whistleblower report from a veteran DOJ official, Bove suggested during a senior-level meeting that the Department should simply “say f--- you” and ignore any federal court orders blocking Trump’s mass deportation plan under the Alien Enemies Act. 

2025: Senate Hearing

During his judicial confirmation hearing, Bove refused to state that President Biden legitimately won the 2020 election. Instead, he claimed the issue was still a “political question” “tied up in litigation.”