In a highly unusual move, a federal judge on Thursday recused himself from Oregon’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration over the activation of its National Guard to quell the violence directed toward ICE agents.
US District Judge Michael Simon, an Obama appointee, at the request of the DOJ, recused himself due to a conflict of interest involving his wife, Democrat Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.
Rep. Bonamici has publicly stated she is against troop deployment to Portland.
Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, will now oversee the case.
A hearing for a request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is scheduled for Friday at 10 am PST.
BREAKING: At Trump DOJ request, Judge Michael Simon (Obama) recuses from Oregon’s suit over activation of its National Guard for immigration enforcement/ICE security. New Judge Karin Immergut (Trump). DOJ argued comments by Simon’s wife @RepBonamici about case merited recusal. pic.twitter.com/3Kd4M6ibad
— Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) October 2, 2025
Last weekend, President Trump authorized troops to Portland, Oregon, and other Democrat-run cities to protect ICE agents from Antifa terrorists and other radical far-left groups.
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Right on cue, Democrat-run Oregon sued the Trump Administration to stop the deployment of troops.
Oregon’s Democrat Governor Tina Kotek openly declared war on President Trump’s plan to restore order in Portland, telling the President of the United States to “stand down” and keep federal troops out of her state, even as Antifa terrorists and far-left agitators have spent years terrorizing the city.
At a press conference in downtown Portland, Kotek dismissed Trump’s announcement of a military deployment as an “abuse of power” and a “misuse of federal troops.”
On Thursday, Trump DOJ lawyers argued that Judge Simon must recuse himself because of the public statements made by his Democrat Rep. spouse.
Later Thursday, Judge Simon recused himself and said the case was randomly assigned to Judge Karin Immergut.
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