By Isabella Torregiani
2:06pm PDT, Jun 27, 2025
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During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, June 25, Justice Department official
Emil Bove faced questioning as part of his nomination to serve a lifetime appointment on a federal appeals court. Bove, who previously served as one of President
Donald Trump's personal attorneys, pushed back on accusations that he acted as the president's "henchman" or "enforcer."
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Emil Bove has come under fire for several controversial decisions — including helping remove prosecutors from Capitol riot cases, asking to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams and allegedly telling officials to ignore court orders. While addressing the scrutiny, Bove said he's being misrepresented: "I respect this process, and I'm here today to address some of your questions about those decisions," he said during his testimony. "But I want to be clear about one thing up front: There is a wildly inaccurate caricature of me in the mainstream media. … I am not anybody's henchman. I'm not an enforcer. I'm a lawyer from a small town who never expected to be in an arena like this."
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Just a day before Emil Bove's confirmation hearing, former DOJ official Erez Reuveni alleged that Bove once told federal prosecutors that President Donald Trump's administration does not have to follow court orders that could disrupt its mass deportation plans. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) brought up the complaint during his questioning, quoting the explicit language Reuveni claims Bove used in a meeting: "In the complaint, it says, 'Bove stated the DOJ would need to consider telling the courts, f*** you, and ignoring any such court order,'" Schiff said. "Did you say anything of that kind in the meeting?" Bove replied that he didn't have any "recollection" of making those comments. Schiff pushed further, remarking, "It seems to me that would be something you'd remember … unless that's the kind of thing you say frequently." Responded Bove, "Well, I've certainly said things encouraging litigators at the department to fight hard for valid positions that we have to take in defense of our clients."
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The exchange grew more intense as Adam Schiff continued to press Emil Bove: "Have you frequently suggested that they say, 'f— you' and ignore court orders?" Schiff asked. Bove denied the accusation, saying, "I did not suggest that there would be any need to consider ignoring court orders." He added that during the meeting in the complaint, "There were no court orders to discuss." Replied Schiff, "Well, did you suggest telling the courts 'f*** you' in any manner?" Bove responded, "I don't recall."
