The U.S. Senate has officially approved Emil Bove, former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, as a federal judge. Bove, known for his ties to Trump and his role in a tumultuous period at the Justice Department, has been granted a lifetime position on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Philadelphia. The confirmation vote of 50-49, led by the Republican-majority Senate, saw opposition from moderate Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, as well as all Democrats.
Despite strong objections from Democrats and over 900 former Justice Department employees who accused Bove of compromising the department’s integrity, the confirmation proceeded. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the decision as a “dark day” and labeled Bove as a “dangerous nominee.”
Bove’s nomination received support from Republicans, highlighting his background as a federal terrorism prosecutor in New York and his defense of Trump in three criminal cases. Senator Chuck Grassley commended Bove’s qualifications and criticized the Democrats for their negative portrayal.
With Bove’s confirmation, the appeals court will now have a majority of Republican appointees overseeing cases from New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Bove’s tenure was marked by clashes with career officials as the Trump administration sought to align the department with its agenda.
Whistleblower complaints emerged against Bove, including allegations of inappropriate language and directives concerning court orders during the Trump administration. Bove refuted these claims and defended his decisions, including the controversial dropping of a corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. The move led to the resignation of several prosecutors who accused Bove of political bias.
The Senate’s approval of Bove is part of a broader effort to solidify Trump’s influence on the judiciary, following numerous legal battles during his presidency. Critics argue that these appointments aim to shift the judiciary to the right, while supporters see it as a necessary correction to judicial overreach.