Peter Welch: “I oppose the appointment of Emil Bove to serve on the Federal court. You know, there are two issues. One for any judge…”

“I oppose the appointment of Emil Bove to serve on the Federal court. You know, there are two issues. One for any judge is temperament-- absolutely essential--where that judge has to step back and not be partisan, has to be fair to all litigants. Emil Bove totally lacks the temperament to serve on the Federal judiciary under any President, under any administration. In 2018, the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of New York sent a letter to the Southern District leadership detailing incredibly detailed complaints from fellow defense attorneys about Bove. These are people that worked with him in a professional capacity. This was before Bove was the political figure that he has become. They described him gratuitously as a person who was vindictive, a prosecutor version of a drunk driver, and needing adult supervision. It was because of his conduct towards the people he was working with in the judicial system. The reality that we all know is that in the judicial system, fierce as you may be as a prosecutor, determined as you may be as a defense attorney, impartial as you want to be as a judge, everyone has to cooperate to do their job, not interfere with others, and to be supportive of those who are doing the work with you--your fellow prosecutors, your fellow defense attorneys. Bove couldn't do that. He does not have the temperament to serve in a high judicial position.”