The Justice Department has accused U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell of displaying “hostility” toward President Donald Trump and is calling for her to recuse herself from a case in which she blocked his efforts to penalize a Democrat-linked law firm involved in supporting the infamous Steele dossier.
Deputy Associate Attorney General Richard Lawson said Friday that Howell has a track record of showing “disdain” for Trump, citing remarks she made in 2023 suggesting he could steer the country toward authoritarianism, as well as more recent criticism of his pardons for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, the Washington Times reported.
The DOJ also pointed to what it described as unusual rulings by Howell in prior criminal cases involving Trump, including a decision where she labeled him a potential flight risk.
