WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court judge has dismissed a misconduct complaint filed by the Justice Department against a judge who clashed with President Donald Trump ’s administration over deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador.
The complaint against U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg was dismissed on Dec. 19 by Jeffrey S. Sutton, chief judge of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals but the order only came to light this weekend.
The complaint stemmed from remarks that Boasberg, the chief judge in the district court in the nation’s capital, allegedly made in March 2025 to Chief Justice John Roberts and other federal judges at a judicial conference saying the administration would trigger a constitutional crisis by disregarding federal court rulings. The meeting took place days before Boasberg issued an order blocking deportation flights that Trump was carrying out by invoking wartime authorities from an 18th century law.
In the dismissal order, Sutton said the Justice Department never provided a listed attachment to provide proof of what Boasberg said or the context of the alleged statement at the closed-door conference.
“A recycling of unadorned allegations with no reference to a source does not corroborate them. And a repetition of uncorroborated statements rarely supplies a basis for a valid misconduct complaint," said Sutton, who was appointed by President George W. Bush to the appeals court circuit that covers Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Spokespeople for the Justice Department and for Boasberg's court did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Even if Boasberg had made the comments, Sutton said it would not be “so far afield" from topics discussed at the gathering and would not violate ethics rules. Sutton noted that Roberts' 2024 year-end report raised general concerns about threats to judicial independence, security concerns for judges and respect for court orders throughout the nation's history.
The misconduct complaint was filed with Judge Sri Srinivasan, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but Srinivasan asked Roberts to transfer it to another appeals court circuit because it was still considering appeals related to the deportation case, according to the dismissal order. Roberts transferred it to the 6th Circuit, it said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi listens as President Donald Trump speaks at an event on addiction recovery in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
BOSTON (AP) — The Chicago White Sox acquired right-hander Jordan Hicks from Boston on Sunday as the Red Sox gave up one of their top pitching prospects to unload most of Hicks' salary.
The key to the deal for Chicago could be pitching prospect David Sandlin, who has been ranked by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect and No. 2 pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization. White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Sandlin, a 24-year-old righty who split time last year in Triple-A and Double-A, will compete for a spot in the rotation at spring training.
“He’s got a chance to really impact our starting rotation this year,” Getz said. “He’s a guy that we feel can be a starter in the big leagues for a long time and help us win games."
Boston also will send two players to be named and cash to Chicago in the deal that will bring right-handed prospect Gage Ziehl and a player to the Red Sox. Hicks had been owed $25 million over the next two seasons, a liability that came with a hefty payroll tax for Boston.
Hicks, 29, was 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the Red Sox last season after losing his job in the Giants rotation and coming to Boston in the deal that sent All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers to San Francisco. He went on the injured list as of Sept. 4 with right shoulder tendinitis and did not pitch again.
In all, Hicks is 17-35 with a 4.41 ERA in a seven-year career that also includes time with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Getz said he is hoping that Hicks can get healthy and earn a spot in the starting rotation, but “at his floor, I think we got a guy that can really help us in the bullpen.” The White Sox had the fewest saves, 25, in the majors last season.
“I am fine with either role,” Hicks said on a conference call with reporters. “I think we are on the same page, so we will see how the role ends up."
Boston had been searching for hitting this offseason — even before losing third baseman Alex Bregman as a free agent — but instead signed lefty Ranger Suárez as a free agent and picked up righty Sonny Gray in a trade with the Cardinals. The moves left them with a potential pitching glut — along with a potential luxury tax bill — and the opportunity to move some arms for hitters.
The White Sox traded center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets last month, and Getz said they would reinvest the $20 million in savings in the team. He then signed right-hander Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million deal and added Hicks.
Sandlin, a 24-year-old righty, is 13-12 with a 4.38 ERA in four minor league seasons. To make room for Hicks and Sandlin on the 40-man roster, the White Sox designated right-hander Jairo Iriarte and catcher Drew Romo for assignment.
Ziehl is a 22-year-old 11th-round draft pick who has pitched one game above Class A.
AP Baseball Writer Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report.
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FILE - Boston Red Sox's Jordan Hicks reacts after striking out Houston Astros' Carlos Correa in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Aug. 2, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, File)
