House Republican plans impeachment articles against district judge who blocked voter database

Rep. Abe Hamadeh announced Monday that he will introduce articles of impeachment against U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan on Thursday. Hamadeh said the move responds to Sooknanan’s ruling that halted a modified version of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database.

The database combines Department of Homeland Security citizenship records with Social Security Administration data to help states check voter eligibility.

Judge’s ruling Sooknanan issued the order last month after finding the administration likely violated the Privacy Act and Social Security Act by sharing the revised database. In her 75-page opinion, she noted that some eligible voters had already been incorrectly flagged as noncitizens, leading to canceled registrations.

“The federal government has knowingly trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens in a manner that threatens the sacred right to vote,” Sooknanan wrote.

Administration response The Trump administration disputed the ruling and said the Justice Department plans to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Hamadeh called the decision an overreach of judicial authority and said it undermined election integrity.

Impeachment process Even if the House approves articles of impeachment by a simple majority, removal would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate. Eight federal judges have been removed through impeachment and conviction in U.S. history.