Calls to Impeach Obama-Appointed Judge Intensify over Sex Scandal Involving Atlanta Police Commander

Republican lawmakers have intensified their push to impeach several federal judges appointed by former President Barack Obama, marking a significant escalation in political tensions surrounding the judiciary. This movement has seen multiple resolutions introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives targeting both judges for alleged misconduct and decisions perceived as undermining executive authority.

The first instance involves Judge John McConnell Jr., the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. On June 9, Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, filed a resolution to impeach McConnell over a ruling that invalidated a Trump administration immigration policy. The policy, established by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, had temporarily halted asylum applications and other immigration benefits for individuals from designated high-risk countries. McConnell ruled that the policy was unlawful, citing insufficient legal justification and potential violations of due process rights. Steube's resolution accused McConnell of prioritizing the interests of immigrants over national security, arguing that the judge dismissed the administration’s national security claims as mere pretenses. McConnell was nominated to the federal bench by Obama in 2011, and another resolution, H. Res. 241, was introduced against him in March 2025, alleging that he used his judicial role to promote personal political views.

Separately, in Georgia, two Republican representatives—Clay Fuller and Andrew Clyde—filed impeachment resolutions against U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross of the Northern District of Georgia. These actions follow a judicial misconduct investigation conducted by the Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit. The probe revealed that Ross had engaged in a romantic relationship with Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Kelley Collier within her courthouse chambers during work hours. Additionally, she attended a partisan political event and gave misleading information when first questioned about the incident by Eleventh Circuit Chief Judge William Pryor. Ross later admitted to the relationship but contested certain elements of the complaints. A person responding to calls at her office indicated that she had no further comments. The investigation also led to a private reprimand from the Judicial Council, which barred her from serving as chief judge and excluded her from participating in Judicial Conference committees. Despite these sanctions, Ross continues to serve as an active federal judge.

The Atlanta Police Department has launched its own inquiry into whether Deputy Chief Collier is indeed an employee, given his current role as director of the Atlanta Police Academy. Ross was appointed to the Northern District of Georgia by Obama in 2014 and confirmed by the Senate that same year. Prior to her federal appointment, she served as a state court judge in DeKalb County and worked extensively as a prosecutor in Atlanta.

All three impeachment resolutions—those targeting McConnell and Ross—have been forwarded to the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio. Fuller mentioned coordinating with Jordan’s office while drafting his resolution, though Jordan declined to comment. According to the U.S. Constitution, federal judges enjoy life tenure and can only be removed via impeachment by the House and subsequent conviction by a two-thirds majority in the Senate. Historically, only 15 federal judges have faced impeachment, with just eight ultimately being convicted.

This broader initiative by Republicans reflects a growing strategy aimed at challenging the federal judiciary, particularly judges appointed under previous Democratic administrations. The focus on judges who have ruled against policies associated with the Trump administration underscores the political motivations behind these impeachment efforts. As the legislative process unfolds, the outcome will depend heavily on the support garnered within the House and the potential for a Senate trial, although such proceedings remain rare and politically complex.