A group of 22 House and Senate Democrats have called on Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas for not disclosing that he accepted gifts from a Republican megadonor, Harlan Crow, without disclosing them for over two decades. The lawmakers expressed concern about "unethical, and potentially unlawful, conduct at the Supreme Court" and urged Roberts to take swift action in a letter Friday.
They also noted that the Court has not commented on the revelations aside from Thomas's Friday statement, and that they "have reason to believe" Crow was connected to multiple groups that have filed amicus briefs to the Court. They warned Roberts that they would "continue to press Congress to act to restore accountability and ethics at the highest Court in the land" if he failed-to-act. The Senate Judiciary Committee has vowed-to-act-in-response-to-the-ProPublica-report-on-Thursday.
A report released last week accuses Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of improperly receiving lavish gifts from a wealthy friend, Republican mega donor Harlan Crow-, without disclosing-the-gifts-. Roger Severino_, vice president_of_domestic_policy_and_Elizabeth_A._Anderlik_Fellow_at_The_Heritage_Foundation-said_the_report_was_nothing_more_than_a_political_hit_job. He also accused liberals-of_giving_a-"pass"-to-perceived_bias_on_the_left-, pointing_out_that_the_late_Justice_Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg_officiated-a_same-sex_wedding_before_the_Obergefell_decision_that_federally_recognized-gay_marriage-.
Justices are not required_to_disclose_invitations_and_travel_that_are_considered_"personal_hospitality"and_the_Supreme_Court_is_not_subject_to_an_ethics_code. Conservatives_have_called_for_resignation_from_ProPublica_report-, while Democrats_and_the_media_have_also_responded_with_hair-triggered_responses_to_any_story_related_to_Thomas.