Hi,
One of the biggest cases currently before the Supreme Court is Moore vs.
U.S., and it could hand a $350 billion windfall to some of the biggest
corporations in America while declaring wealth taxes unconstitutional.
And though oral arguments haven't even taken place yet, some justices may
have already decided how they'll vote due to blatant conflicts of
interest.
Justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts personally own stock in 17 of the
companies that could benefit from a favorable ruling.^1 Justice Clarence
Thomas has gotten tens of millions of dollars' worth of gifts and payouts
from billionaires who stand to benefit as well.^2
The fact that these justices haven't recused themselves shows why their
newly announced "code of conduct" is such a joke.^3 Demand Progress Action
has been pushing for months for a legally binding code of ethics for the
Supreme Court, and now we need to turn up the heat to make sure the Senate
doesn't back down.
[ [link removed] ]Will you make a donation to Demand Progress Action to help stop the
Supreme Court's corruption and push for other reforms?
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In Moore vs. U.S., the Supreme Court may strike down a key section of the
2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which would result in a $350 billion tax break
for corporations like Goldman Sachs and Google. In addition, the Court is
being asked to declare all wealth taxes unconstitutional, effectively
preventing the ultra-wealthy from ever being taxed fairly.^4
Such a ruling would doubly benefit Justices Sam Alito and John Roberts.
Together, they own shares in 17 companies that would get $30 billion in
tax relief. And it would be a golden opportunity for Clarence Thomas to
pay back the billionaires who have been subsidizing his lifestyle with
lavish gifts and luxury vacations.
Leonard Leo, the architect of the right-wing takeover of the entire
judicial system, has his fingerprints all over Moore vs. U.S., as well.
Leo has played a key role in connecting the justices to billionaire
benefactors like Paul Singer, and he's closely tied to two right-wing
groups lobbying the court, the Manhattan Institute and the Competitive
Enterprise Institute.^5
It's a complex web of connections that boils down to abject corruption,
plain and simple.
The good news is that momentum for a real, legally binding ethics code is
growing in Congress, and the Senate Judiciary Committee may even subpoena
Leonard Leo and Harlan Crow, two of the major players in the Supreme Court
scandals that have broken in recent months.^6
We at Demand Progress Action are turning up the pressure to demand that
these justices recuse themselves and to urge Congress to pass a real,
legally binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court.
[ [link removed] ]Will you donate $10 to Demand Progress Action and support
our work, including pushing for an enforceable Supreme Court code of
ethics?
With gratitude for all that you do,
Tihi and the team at Demand Progress Action
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
Sources:
1. The Lever, "Justices Have Financial Interest In Major Tax Case,"
[ [link removed] ]September 27, 2023.
2. ProPublica, "Friends of the Court," [ [link removed] ]accessed November 22, 2023.
3. The New Yorker, "The Supreme Court’s Self-Excusing Ethics Code,"
[ [link removed] ]November 21, 2023.
4. Tax Policy Center, "Examining the Tax Rules at Risk in SCOTUS Moore v.
US Case," [ [link removed] ]October 11, 2023.
5. Slate, "Oh, Look! Billionaires Have Their Perfect Case to Start the
Supreme Court Term." [ [link removed] ]October 2, 2023.
6. MSNBC, "Sen. Whitehouse still wants subpoenas for Crow and Leo,"
[ [link removed] ]November 14, 2023.
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