Oregon Judge Recuses from National Guard Lawsuit Over Spousal Conflict

Federal Judge Michael Simon recused himself from the case concerning the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, following a request from the Department of Justice due to a conflict of interest involving his wife, Democratic Representative Suzanne Bonamici. Bonamici has publicly opposed the deployment, signing a letter with other Oregon lawmakers urging the administration to rescind the order and participating in a press conference with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who also opposed the military presence. Despite not believing recusal was strictly required, Simon stepped aside to maintain focus on the constitutional and statutory issues at hand. The case was reassigned to Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee who has previously ruled in favor of Trump administration policies. Oregon's lawsuit challenges President Trump's authorization of troops to protect ICE facilities amid ongoing violence and unrest, framing the deployment as an abuse of executive power. This legal dispute highlights broader tensions between federal authority and state governance in managing civil unrest and law enforcement.