Recent reports suggest that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been accepting luxury trips from Republican billionaire Harlan Crow for over 20 years without disclosing them. The allegations have prompted New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) to call for Thomas’ impeachment, stating that “This degree of corruption is shocking – almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached”.
Embed from Getty ImagesThomas’ failure to disclose the trips appears to violate a law requiring judges, members of Congress, and other federal officials to report most gifts, including private jet flights. Crow is a known megadonor to conservative organizations, and his luxury gifts to Thomas have raised concerns of ethical misconduct.
AOC has also claimed that this scandal will define the current conservative-led Supreme Court run by Chief Justice John Roberts, calling it “rank corruption, erosion of democracy, and the stripping of human rights”. Progressive judicial groups have joined in the call for congressional action, with some demanding Senate hearings on Thomas’ “apparent lawbreaking and unethical conduct”.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe allegations against Clarence Thomas have underscored the need for stricter gift and travel rules for the Supreme Court, which is considered the least accountable part of the government. Progressive social movement nonprofit Indivisible has urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate Thomas’ reported ethical lapses and hold hearings and votes on the Supreme Court Ethics, Transparency, and Recusal Act.
It remains to be seen what actions will be taken in response to these allegations against Clarence Thomas, but the calls for impeachment and stricter regulations on the Supreme Court are growing louder.
