Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) launched a bold initiative on Wednesday, introducing articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The action comes amidst mounting accusations of their ethical misconduct and failure to recuse from pivotal cases.
Ocasio-Cortez condemned Thomas and Alito for a “pattern of refusal to recuse from consequential matters,” citing their alleged acceptance of millions in undisclosed gifts and connections to contentious legal issues involving their spouses.
“Justice Thomas and Alito’s repeated failure over decades to disclose that they received millions of dollars in gifts from individuals with business before the court is explicitly against the law. And their refusal to recuse from the specific matters and cases before the court in which their benefactors and spouses are implicated represents nothing less than a constitutional crisis,” stated Ocasio-Cortez, underscoring the severity of the constitutional crisis fueled by their actions.
While the articles face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House, the move underscores deepening concerns over judicial ethics. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden have also called for a criminal investigation into Thomas’s potential violations of federal laws.
Reports by ProPublica uncovered Thomas’s unreported luxury trips funded by a conservative donor and his wife’s affiliations with groups linked to the January 6 Capitol attack. Meanwhile, Alito faced scrutiny for undisclosed travel and his wife’s association with provocative symbols tied to the insurrection.
The impeachment resolution targets Thomas for multiple failures to disclose gifts and his refusal to recuse from cases involving his spouse. Alito similarly faces impeachment for ethical breaches related to luxury travel and failure to recuse from significant legal matters.
Both justices recently sided with a contentious ruling granting former presidents immunity from prosecution for official acts, a decision hailed by former President Donald Trump. They also played crucial roles in limiting legal grounds for prosecuting January 6 rioters.
The Supreme Court’s discretion in recusal decisions, coupled with its belated adoption of a code of conduct, has done little to quell concerns about impartiality.
