UPDATE: the Senate Judiciary Committee just subpoenaed two GOP megadonors to expose the truth behind the lavish gifts and luxury vacations they showered on Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. [1]
John, this major win shows Congress is listening to the tens of thousands of Common Cause members like you who signed our petition calling out the Supreme Court’s weak “code of conduct” and urging Congress to pass a REAL, enforceable code of conduct.
These subpoenas will help expose the truth behind the lavish gifts these conservative megadonors gave to Justices Thomas and Alito – and what, if anything, they expected in return. And they’ll help show Congress why our highest court MUST be held to binding and enforceable ethics standards.
Let’s keep our momentum going, John. Add your name if you agree Congress must continue investigating these ethical violations – and take swift action to pass a strong, binding Supreme Court code of conduct.
For more information on why we must continue demanding strong and enforceable ethics standards for our highest court, see my email below from earlier this month:
Add Your Name: The Supreme Court’s new “code of conduct” falls short of what we need. Demand REAL, enforceable ethics standards today >>
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has finally adopted a code of conduct – after more than 100,000 Common Cause members demanded one following countless ethical violations from Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
The bad news: the code the Court proposed isn’t binding or enforceable in any way – meaning it likely wouldn’t have prevented these major scandals, and the Supreme Court would still get to be both judge and jury when scandals among justices arise.
But here’s the good news: this is the clearest sign yet that your action and mine are working. We’ve been watchdogging the Supreme Court ever since we first broke news of Justice Thomas covering up his personal finances – and today’s announcement is a clear sign the Court is on notice. [2]
John, let’s face it, trusting the Supreme Court to operate under the 'honor system' is what got us into this mess. The half-measure the Court is proposing is no substitute for binding, enforceable congressional action.
If you agree the highest court in the land should be held to the highest ethical standards, I hope you'll add your name to our petition urging Congress to pass a stronger, binding code of conduct. It’s time to hold the Supreme Court accountable to ethical standards that every other court has to follow.
While the Court’s proposal falls well short of the strong reform we need, it is a clear sign that your action is getting their attention. And John, we can’t let up now.
The truth is, every day these scandals go unaddressed, they chip away at the public’s trust in the Supreme Court and our democracy as a whole. These nine justices make decisions that affect millions of people every day. We deserve a Supreme Court where the justices make decisions based solely on the law and the facts, and there’s no appearance of improper influence to taint the outcome of cases.
That’s why Common Cause has been sounding the alarm on Justices’ unreported luxury gifts and vacations for more than a decade – and why we won’t stop until Justices are held to the highest ethical standards.
Earlier this year, with Common Cause’s strong support, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (S. 359) out of committee – now, we need Congress to pass this bill to finally create a real, binding code of conduct for our highest court.
Congress must act now to END Supreme Court corruption and conflicts of interest. Will you join us in speaking up for a Supreme Court code of conduct today?
Thanks for all you do,
Aaron Scherb, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs
and the team at Common Cause
[1] https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/senate-subpoenas-harlan-crow-leonard-leo
[2] https://www.commoncause.org/resource/supreme-conflict/
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