The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday asked the judge assigned to oversee the challenge to President Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland, Ore., to step aside because he is married to a Democratic lawmaker who opposes it.
The recusal motion landed a day before U.S. District Judge Michael Simon will hold a hearing on Oregon’s request to temporarily block the deployment.
Simon is married to Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), who represents a district that stretches from Portland’s western suburbs to the coastline.
Bonamici spoke at a press conference alongside the state’s governor opposing the deployment and has repeatedly criticized the move on social media.
“It’s absurd that Trump is spending an expected $3.8 million to deploy the National Guard to Portland, especially during a government shutdown and when families are struggling to pay for health care, housing, and groceries,” Bonamici wrote on Bluesky.
The Justice Department’s motion contends it undermines public confidence in the proceedings.
“To be sure, Defendants recognize that Judge Simon and Representative Bonamici speak for themselves, not for each other. Nonetheless, the unique factual, legal and political role that Judge Simon’s spouse has played in the central events of this lawsuit may create the appearance of partiality,” the motion reads.
Oregon and Portland sued the administration over the weekend as the Defense Department authorized 200 members of Oregon’s National Guard to be deployed to Portland, days after Trump said he would send troops to protect the Rose City and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building there.
It follows National Guard deployments Trump sent to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles in recent months.
