Elon Musk donates to Republican lawmakers supporting judge impeachments

Elon Musk has donated to Republican lawmakers who support impeaching the federal judges who have blocked the Trump administration from implementing its policies, according to a report by The New York Times.

Musk has given the maximum amount of hard-dollar donations to the campaigns of seven Republican lawmakers who have either endorsed or called for some level of action regarding judicial impeachments. The combined federal limit for donations to primary and general elections is $6,600.

The recipients include Representatives Eli Crane (AZ), Lauren Boebert (CO), Andy Ogles (TN), Andrew Clyde (GA), Derrick Van Orden (WI), and Brandon Gill (TX), as well as Senator Charles E. Grassley (IA), sources told The New York Times.

The donations come amid recent judicial rulings against the Trump administration, including a decision over the weekend by Judge James Boasberg of the Federal District Court in Washington. Boasberg ordered the administration to turn around planes deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador and instead return them to the US The administration refused to comply, and President Trump has called for Boasberg’s impeachment.

In response, Rep. Gill introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg after the judge temporarily blocked Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport the gang members.

Separately, Rep. Crane introduced impeachment articles against Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York after Engelmayer temporarily restricted Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the Treasury Department’s payment and data systems.

“We didn’t do it so Elon Musk would give us a campaign donation,” Crane said of Musk’s contributions. “But I think it’s great that individuals like Elon are throwing support behind those of us willing to take action.”

Musk also donated to Sen. Grassley, though the senator has not explicitly called for Boasberg’s impeachment. However, Grassley condemned the ruling and suggested that the Senate would take action.

“Another day, another judge unilaterally deciding policy for the whole country,” Grassley posted on X. “This time to benefit foreign gang members If the Supreme Court or Congress doesn’t fix, we’re headed towards a constitutional crisis. Senate Judiciary Cmte taking action.”

President Trump has called the judges “crooked” and his administration has questioned whether federal judges should have the authority to unilaterally block certain policies from being enforced nationwide. The legal battle has led to speculation that the Supreme Court may need to weigh in on the practice of judges issuing nationwide injunctions, as it is becoming increasingly common.

In a rare statement, Chief Justice John Roberts responded to Trump’s calls for impeachment, asserting that, “for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” He added, “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”