Staff Reports
House Democrats are pushing for a new office to investigate the Supreme Court and the justices for potential conflicts of interest. The legislation, known as the Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act, also includes ethics training for the justices and their spouses.
Congressman Hank Johnson, a Democrat from Georgia, believes that reforming the court is crucial for protecting our democracy. He introduced the bill, along with other Democratic lawmakers and progressive groups, on the steps of the Supreme Court.
House Democrats push bill to create investigative counsel at Supreme Court over ethicshttps://t.co/B8lr8Rc44C pic.twitter.com/8oiM9x1Ue8
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) June 4, 2024
Another Democratic representative, Jerry Nadler from New York, supports the legislation and specifically called out Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas for refusing to recuse themselves from cases related to the January 6th riots.
Nadler pointed to actions by Justice Alito and his wife, as well as actions by Justice Thomas’ wife, as reasons for concern. He emphasized the need for an investigative body within the Supreme Court to address ethics concerns and report back to Congress.
Concerns over potential conflicts of interest have arisen due to reported incidents involving flags flown by the justices at their residences. Justice Alito has stated that his wife was solely responsible for the flag decisions and that he is not biased in any dispute.
The push for recusal comes as the Supreme Court is considering major cases related to former President Trump and the January 6th riot. Opinions on these cases are expected by the end of June.
Overall, the Democrats are seeking greater oversight of the Supreme Court and the justices to ensure ethical behavior and the proper handling of cases.
