New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has initiated a bold move by filing articles of impeachment against U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. The congresswoman claims that their actions have led to a “constitutional crisis threatening American democracy.”
On Wednesday, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) formally submitted the impeachment articles, accusing the conservative justices of fostering a “corruption crisis” by failing to disclose gifts and recuse themselves from cases where they had personal interests. She emphasized that their conduct poses a significant threat to the rule of law and the integrity of democracy.
“Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito’s pattern of refusal to recuse from consequential matters before the court in which they hold widely documented financial and personal entanglements constitutes a grave threat to the American rule of law, the integrity of our democracy, and one of the clearest cases for which the tool of impeachment was designed,” Ocasio-Cortez stated.
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Despite the articles’ slim chances of progressing in the Republican-controlled House, the move maintains the spotlight on the majority-conservative Supreme Court. This action aligns with the Democrats’ broader efforts to hold the judiciary accountable and introduces legislation to limit the value of gifts that justices can receive.
Ocasio-Cortez filed two articles against Alito and three against Thomas. Thomas is accused of failing to disclose financial income, gifts, reimbursements, property interests, liabilities, and transactions. Alito faces allegations of not recusing himself from cases due to personal biases, highlighted by reports of him flying flags associated with efforts to overturn the 2020 election at his homes.
ProPublica previously reported that Alito did not disclose a 2008 trip with billionaire Paul Singer and did not recuse himself from cases involving Singer’s hedge fund. Alito defended himself in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, claiming minimal engagement with Singer and no obligation to recuse.
Thomas, meanwhile, has been scrutinized for accepting undisclosed luxury vacations from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow, whom he describes as a “close personal friend.” Thomas also amended his financial disclosure forms to include previously unreported real estate transactions with Crow.
Additionally, the articles highlight the involvement of Ginni Thomas, Clarence Thomas’ wife. Reports suggest that conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo directed a group to obscure a payment to her for consulting work. Leo defended this as a measure to protect her privacy.
Co-sponsors of the impeachment articles include Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). The Supreme Court has not yet commented on the impeachment attempt.
This significant development keeps the Supreme Court under scrutiny, particularly amidst internal Democratic debates over President Joe Biden’s potential re-nomination.
