Hi, “The highest court in the land shouldn’t have the lowest ethical standards,” said Senator Dick Durbin about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ latest ethics scandal. We must build the pressure on Congress to finally pass ethics standards for Supreme Court Justices. Add your name here if you agree. -Tihi and the team at Demand Progress

Hi,

Over more than two decades, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas reportedly accepted luxury trips virtually every year from GOP mega-donor, and billionaire Dallas businessman, Harlan Crow without disclosing them.1

Superyachts, private jets, and resorts — all of it included. These frequent luxury trips break the law according to two ethics experts.2 And yet, for more than four years, the Supreme Court has failed to adopt an ethics code and enforce ethical norms despite a series of serious controversies.3

If we want to stop Thomas’ unethical behavior and ensure the integrity of the high court, Congress MUST pass a Supreme Court ethics law.

Sign the petition to Congress: Require the Supreme Court to follow ethics rules!

In one example, Clarence Thomas refused to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and the 2020 election even after his wife, Ginni Thomas, was found to have connections with an attempt to overturn election results.4 In another, wealthy lobbyists bought access to the justices.5 The Supreme Court has shown it is unwilling or unable to police its own behavior.

Clearly, there are a whole host of ethics issues involving Clarence Thomas. "It’s incomprehensible to me that someone would do this," said retired federal judge Nancy Gertner.6

These luxury trips with a GOP billionaire are the latest example of how ultra-wealthy right-wingers gain access and potentially exercise influence with the Supreme Court justice.7

The Supreme Court should not be a supreme scandal. We need a Supreme Court code of ethics, and we need Congress to make it law.

Urge Congress to pass a code of ethics for the Supreme Court.

Thanks for taking action,

Tihi and the team at Demand Progress

Sources:

  1. Pro Publica, "Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire,” April 6, 2023.
  2. Ibid.
  3. Forbes, "Supreme Court Justices Reportedly Can’t Figure Out How To Adopt Ethics Code Amid Controversies,” February 9, 2023.
  4. Washington Post, "Virginia Thomas urged White House chief to pursue unrelenting efforts to overturn the 2020 election, texts show,” March 24, 2023.
  5. New York Times, "A Charity Tied to the Supreme Court Offers Donors Access to the Justices,” December 30, 2022.
  6. Politico, "Trump lawyers saw Justice Thomas as 'only chance' to stop 2020 election certification,” November 2, 2022.
  7. New York Times, "A Charity Tied to the Supreme Court Offers Donors Access to the Justices,” December 30, 2022.

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