Amid all the Trump administration’s efforts to politicize the justice system, few loom larger right now than the nomination of top Justice Department official Emil Bove to a prestigious appeals-court judgeship.

Bove, a top DOJ official involved in firing federal prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases, condemned illegal activity but also criticized “overreach and heavy-handed tactics” by federal law enforcement.

Lawyers for a DOJ whistleblower have released texts they say bolster claims that judicial nominee Emil Bove suggested defying court orders related to immigration policy.

Judicial nominee Emil Bove wouldn’t directly answer if President Donald Trump could serve a third term in office under the Constitution, instead telling lawmakers in written questions it would be “improper” to comment on the issue.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote soon on Bove. Critics called the former Trump lawyer “the worst conceivable nominee” for a lifetime judgeship.

WASHINGTON >> U.S. Senate Democrats today released internal Justice Department text messages and emails to corroborate claims by a whistleblower who alleged that President Donald Trump’s judicial nominee Emil Bove suggested that department lawyers could defy court orders to carry out mass deportations.