Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has indicated she is committed to securing the introduction of articles of impeachment against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as concern continues to grow about his connections to GOP megadonor Harlan Crow. Over the years, Thomas has benefited from free hospitality provided by Crow, some of which may have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time if the judge had procured the accommodations himself.
The concern, of course, is that this sort of relationship with one of the highest-ranking judges in the United States could provide for somebody like Crow to at least seek to develop favor with Thomas or similarly minded judges, even though in theory their decisions are, of course, supposed to be independent. In general, the choices these judges make easily affect millions of people. “I do think articles need to be introduced,” Ocasio-Cortez said on a podcast. “If we decide strategically that the actual author of those articles and who introduces them may not be me, that’s fine. I will support impeachment… I think this has gone far, far beyond any sort of acceptable standard in any democracy, let alone in American democracy.” She’s also spoken in support of the idea elsewhere, and a limited number of other Dems in positions of power have similarly gotten behind the prospect of Thomas leaving the court.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who could soon be a Senator depending on how elections in California next year go, supports the related idea of expanding membership on the Supreme Court. Predictably, Crow claimed he hadn’t brought up relevant court cases with Thomas during their yacht and private jet getaways, but is there any way to really be sure? Thomas also may have broken federal rules, considering established guidelines demanding the disclosure of hospitality like travel that’s gifted to judges. Yacht and private jet trips are travel! Recently, updates to the rules for these disclosures were outlined in a letter to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). Required for disclosure include accommodations financially covered by a third party or provided at commercial establishments rather than a private residence.
