JUST IN: Anti-Trump Judge Hit With Articles Of Impeachment

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has formally introduced articles of impeachment against U.S. District Judge John Bates, accusing him of judicial activism and attempting to undermine an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The move comes after Bates ruled to block the administration’s order that removed gender-affirming care resources from government websites.

Ogles called Bates a “radical LGBTQ activist” and argued that his decision demonstrates a clear “weaponization of his bench.”

“Requiring taxpayer funds to disseminate information endorsing the castration of children is repugnant,” Ogles said in his statement. “Judge Bates joins the ranks of hundreds of political activists disobeying their oaths to score political points. America’s founders gave Congress the authority to impeach judges to defend the will of the people. My articles will do just that.”

The controversy stems from an order issued by Bates, who ruled in favor of the left-wing group Doctors for America, granting a temporary injunction against the Trump administration’s executive order. The order required agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to restore information on gender-transition procedures that had been removed from their websites.

Bates argued that the administration failed to provide sufficient justification for its decision, writing that removing such resources “without explanation” likely violated administrative procedures. He also claimed that medical professionals had “substantial reliance” on the now-removed webpages, dismissing concerns that the information promoted irreversible procedures on minors.

However, conservatives and child advocates have strongly pushed back, arguing that gender-transition interventions—particularly for minors—are experimental, harmful, and should not be normalized through government-funded resources.

Ogles’ impeachment resolution accuses Bates of engaging in “a pattern of conduct that is incompatible with the trust and confidence placed in him as a federal judge.” The articles of impeachment specifically cite his decision to reinstate what they call “socially divisive and destructive LGBTQI+ content” on government-funded websites, directly contradicting the Trump administration’s policies.

The resolution also argues that Bates’ ruling ignores the deeply controversial nature of gender-transition procedures, particularly for minors.

“At no time in American history has the judiciary considered the surgical or chemical castration of healthy children to be a compelling or even legitimate health concern, and it shouldn’t start now,” Ogles said.

The impeachment effort signals a growing frustration among conservatives with what they see as judicial overreach from unelected judges. Many Republicans have criticized Biden and Obama-appointed judges for blocking conservative policies while advancing left-wing social agendas.

The introduction of impeachment articles does not automatically mean Bates will be removed from office. The resolution must first be considered by the House Judiciary Committee before being voted on by the full House. If it passes, the articles would then move to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is required for removal.

Given the current composition of Congress, the impeachment effort faces an uphill battle. While House Republicans hold a slim majority, the Democratic-controlled Senate is unlikely to vote to remove Bates.

With Trump expected to continue rolling back progressive policies in his second term, clashes with federal judges who attempt to block his executive actions are almost inevitable.