A local congressman has introduced articles of impeachment against a longtime federal judge in Southwest Florida, accusing him of abusing his authority.
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube on July 15 introduced articles of impeachment against District Judge John Steele.
Steube has accused Steele of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Steube, who has been in office since 2019, represents Florida’s 17th Congressional District, which includes Sarasota and Charlotte counties, as well as parts of Lee County.
According to the articles of impeachment, on July 8, Steele ordered the release of Miakel Guerra Morales from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility.
Steube argued Guerra Morales is a Cuban national who participated in the hijacking of a commuter aircraft in Cuba in 2003 and forced the pilot to land in Key West.
Guerra Morales was sentenced to 22 years in prison for aircraft piracy and conspiracy to interfere with a flight crew.
Federal immigration officials detained Guerra Morales in December 2025 after he completed his prison sentence and intended to deport Guerra Morales to Mexico, according to Steube.
Steele’s next court case is a July 30 final pretrial conference in a case against a subsidiary of American International Group.
Former President Bill Clinton nominated Steele to the post on June 6, 2000, and the Senate confirmed him July 21 of that year. Steele’s senior status began June 3, 2015.
Steele has presided over several high-profile cases over the years, including when The News-Press in 2005 sued the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for records related to Hurricane Charley, which in 2004 left a path of destruction and claimed 10 lives in the U.S.
In that case, Steele ruled the government had to release the records.
Most recently, Steele has presided over the legal battle between Naples Pride and the city of Naples after city officials forced the event’s drag show performances indoors. Steele ruled the drag performances were protected speech and granted a preliminary injunction, authorizing the drag performances outdoors in 2025, but on the eve of the event, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals forced the drag performances indoors.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: U.S. Rep. Greg Steube introduces articles of impeachment against judge
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
