DOJ files misconduct complaints against Minnesota judges who spoke to NYT

The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed a judicial misconduct complaint against several federal judges based in Minnesota after they spoke to the New York Times about the Trump administration's deportation surge in Minneapolis.

The complaint, filed to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, points to a New York Times article, entitled "Trump's Minnesota Surge Threatened Democracy, Judge Warns" in which U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz sat for an interview with the outlet, as did other Minnesota federal judges.

Schlitz's commentary, the DOJ alleged, included inappropriately partisan remarks. The agency also highlighted comments from U.S. District Judge John Tunheim and asked that the 8th Circuit bar them from hearing cases related to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and conduct a review of their conduct.

"DHS frequently has cases pending in the District of Minnesota, including immigration cases before Judge Schiltz and Judge Tunheim," the DOJ wrote. "These judges should be ordered to recuse from any matters involving DHS because the public reasonably questions their impartiality in cases involving immigration."

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.