Friend,
Legislation just introduced in the House would set a new – and long overdue – ethical standard for Supreme Court justices and other federal judges: Under the legislation, no justice would be able to receive a gift valued at more than $50 or more than $100 worth of gifts over the course of the year. Considering the gift-related scandals we have seen at the Court recently; this is timely and much needed.
Big spenders should not be able to influence a Supreme Court ruling, but unfortunately at least two justices have been willing to brazenly accept expensive gifts and trips from deep-pocketed conservative businesspeople and activists.
In 2023, ProPublica reported that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of luxury travel—private jets and stays at vacation homes — from Republican billionaire Harlan Crow.[1] Samuel Alito took a private Alaska trip with billionaire Paul Singer, who has had business interests before the Court.[2] Neither justice disclosed these gifts.
It is time for Congress to act.
Thank you for your advocacy and commitment to a justice system that upholds rights for all of us, not just the wealthy and powerful.
Charlie Everett
People For the American Way
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Sources
[1] "Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire," ProPublica, 04/06/23
[1] “Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation With GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court,” ProPublica, 06/23/23
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