Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito filed articles of impeachment against Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito on Wednesday, saying their refusal to recuse themselves from some high-profile cases “poses a serious threat to the rule of law in America.”
The New York congressman said in a statement that the refusal of judges to recuse themselves from cases in which they have “widely documented financial and personal turmoil” has created an “out-of-control corruption crisis at the Supreme Court.”
According to him, this is “a serious threat to America’s rule of law, the integrity of our democracy, and one of the clearest cases in which the instrument of impeachment is drawn up.”
The high court did not immediately return a request for comment.
Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement that Alito’s impeachment decision was based on his “refusal to recuse himself from cases in which he had personal bias or prejudice against parties” and his “failure to disclose financial income, gifts or compensation.” , property interests, liabilities and transactions and other information.”
The resolutions were sponsored by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Mich. Rashida Talib, D-Mich., DNJ Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Ill., Delia Ramirez, D-Fla. Maxwell Frost, D-Minn. Ilhan Omar. and Jamaal Bowman, DN.Y.
The first charge centers on two controversial flags flying outside their homes – one inverted American flag and one “Appeal to Heaven” flag. Both flags have been carried in recent years by members of the Stop Stealing movement, whose supporters argue that President Joe Biden did not legitimately win the 2020 presidential election. Alito said it was his wife’s decision to fly the flags.
Alito refused to give up of the two Trump cases pending in court when the flags’ existence was first reported.
The second charge against Alito refers to Alito’s relationship with hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, as reported by ProPublica. He took Alito fishing in Alaska Justice did not disclose in ethics reports. Alito didn’t give it up later Things about Singer.
Thomas’ article of impeachment related to his “failure to disclose financial income, gifts and compensation, property interests, liabilities and transactions, among other things, and his refusal to recuse himself from matters related to his spouse’s legal interests in court cases. [and] to waive issues related to the spouse’s financial interests in cases pending in court.”
Thomas’ ties to GOP mega-donor Harlan Crow have been the subject of intense scrutiny for months.
An extensive report last year by ProPublica pointed to Thomas received lavish gifts such as vacations and flights without disclosure on official ethics forms.
Thomas also drew the ire of his wife Ginny Thomas’s conservative political activism, particularly from critics. his role in former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Arizona.
After the election, Ginny Thomas also sent messages to then White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, urging him to stand by Trump. Ginny Thomas said later He regretted sending it those texts.
Still, Democrats called on Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from two cases involving Trump: constitutional challenge to the former president’s re-nomination and Trump’s claims of presidential immunity. Thomas didn’t give up on either situation, both of which were wins for Trump.
He gave up on himself In October 2023 from a separate case related to January 6.
Lawrence Hurley contributed.