Elise Stefanik lodges ‘inappropriate’ speech complaint against judge linked to Trump, Jan. 6 cases

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik is demanding an ethics investigation into a Washington district court judge who presided over Jan. 6 cases and supervised special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Ms. Stefanik, New York Republican, is urging D.C. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan to launch an ethics probe into U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell for a “highly inappropriate” political speech the former judge gave in November at the annual gala of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association.

Judge Howell blamed the Jan. 6, 2021, protest at the U.S. Capitol on “big lies” and raised the alarm of a “troubling moment in this country” where facts are “dismissed or ignored.”

Ms. Stefanik wrote that the judge’s speech suggested the reelection of Mr. Trump next year “will lead to fascism in America.” The ex-president has dominated the Republican field of candidates vying for the nomination and in recent polling holds an edge over President Biden.

“Judge Howell’s partisan speech is obviously highly inappropriate election interference by a federal judge that undermines the public’s trust in our courts,” Ms. Stefanik said. “Moreover, the public display of the cozy personal relationships between Judge Howell and her partisan friends who appear before her undermines public trust in judicial independence.”

Judge Howell, an Obama appointee, was the chief judge of the D.C. District Court from 2016 to March. During her tenure, she supervised the grand jury against Mr. Trump, his aides and supporters over Jan. 6.

She also supervised the Mueller probe against Mr. Trump and Mr. Smith’s investigation into the former president that resulted in two federal indictments.

Ms. Stefanik said Judge Howell’s comments were not surprising, given her background.

“Partisans cannot use our judicial system to exact political revenge against those with whom they disagree,” Ms. Stefanik said. “The consequences for our legal system, Constitution and country would be devastating.”