Judge overseeing Oregon National Guard case recuses over marriage to Democratic lawmaker

The federal judge assigned to the case challenging President Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland, Ore., recused himself on Thursday, hours after the Justice Department raised concerns about his marriage to a Democratic lawmaker who opposes the deployment.

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon’s recusal came a day before he was slated to convene a hearing on Oregon’s request to temporarily block the deployment.

“Although the Court does not believe that recusal is required under either federal law or the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, because it is necessary that the focus of this lawsuit remain on the critically important constitutional and statutory issues presented by the parties, the undersigned U.S. District Judge hereby recuses himself,” Simon wrote.

Simon is married to Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), who represents a district that stretches from Portland’s western suburbs to the coastline.

Bonamici spoke at a press conference alongside the state’s governor opposing the deployment and has repeatedly criticized the move on social media.

“It's absurd that Trump is spending an expected $3.8 million to deploy the National Guard to Portland, especially during a government shutdown and when families are struggling to pay for health care, housing, and groceries,” Bonamici wrote on Bluesky.

The Justice Department’s motion contends it undermines public confidence in the proceedings.

“To be sure, Defendants recognize that Judge Simon and Representative Bonamici speak for themselves, not for each other. Nonetheless, the unique factual, legal and political role that Judge Simon’s spouse has played in the central events of this lawsuit may create the appearance of partiality,” the motion reads.

Simon is an appointee of former President Obama. The case was randomly reassigned to U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee.

Oregon and Portland sued the administration over the weekend as the Defense Department authorized 200 members of Oregon’s National Guard to be deployed to Portland, days after Trump said he would send troops to protect the Rose City and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building there. 

It follows National Guard deployments Trump sent to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles in recent months.

Updated at 5:24 p.m.