Multiple members of Congress have called for Clarence Thomas, the U.S. Supreme Court Justice, to resign from his position after news emerged of a long list of perks he’d accepted from a GOP megadonor over the years, threatening the effective implementation of rules demanding that judges on the court disclose certain support they’re given.
Rules for benefits like travel and hospitality provided to judges on the nation’s highest court were recently the subject of news highlighted by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who obtained notification that new rules had been implemented formalizing a requirement for the disclosure of items like hospitality provided at a commercial establishment or financially covered by a third-party — or from which the individual providing it could receive financial kickbacks like tax benefits. The updates further outlined the sorts of ostensibly personal gifts that could — or couldn’t — be covered by exemptions for disclosures. Clearly, there’s more at issue.
“This is a timely reminder that Clarence Thomas also heard election cases while his wife conspired to overthrow democracy,” Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) said, referring to the involvement Ginni Thomas had in trying to encourage action on the 2020 election results from the Trump team. “Clarence Thomas is corrupt as hell and should resign from the Supreme Court.” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) had similar thoughts: “Is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas corrupt? I don’t know. But his secretive actions absolutely have the appearance of corruption. And he apparently violated the law. For the good of the country, he should resign.”
There have also, of course, been questions about the political standing of the court considering the machinations that ensured its currently conservative majority that has taken steps like undoing Roe v. Wade, the decision from the 1970s allowing for access to abortion around the country. Now, individual states can set their own rules restricting — or allowing — access to reproductive healthcare. Although the idea of expanding the court, which has been done at various junctures throughout the country’s history, hasn’t taken off to the extent needed for actually implementing such a thing, the proposal still has support from prominent names like Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who is now running to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who is leaving office. Multiple other Democratic members of Congress from California have also announced campaigns.
This is a timely reminder that Clarence Thomas also heard election cases while his wife conspired to overthrow democracy. Clarence Thomas is corrupt as hell and should resign from the Supreme Court. https://t.co/4qSTBaN5Pz
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@BillPascrell) April 6, 2023
Is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas corrupt? I don’t know. But his secretive actions absolutely have the appearance of corruption. And he apparently violated the law. For the good of the country, he should resign.#thursdaymorning thoughts https://t.co/DNTpKHpw5m
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 6, 2023
