House Democrats Propose Creation of Supreme Court Ethics Office

Eighteen House Democrats sent a letter Tuesday to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts calling on the court to establish an ethics counsel after recent reports of “ethical improprieties.”

In the letter, led by Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), the Democrats argue the Supreme Court has failed to conduct “a meaningful and transparent internal investigation” of these allegations raised against Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

“Despite your insistence that the Court can police itself, you have provided no rationale or vision for how the Court will do so,” the Democrats, who are all former prosecutors, law enforcement officials or judges, wrote to Roberts. 

ProPublica reports have detailed undisclosed high-value trips and gifts Thomas failed to disclose from his friend and conservative political activist Harlan Crow and properties Crow bought from Thomas. The outlet also reported that Alito accepted extravagant gifts from conservative donors, including hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, and a vacation paid for by Leonard Leo, who played a role in his confirmation process. 

The Democrats recommended the Supreme Court establish an independent investigative body “that can provide transparency and accountability through exhaustive investigations into alleged ethical improprieties,” as well as an ethics counsel to provide justices advice on disclosure requirements, recusal and other ethical issues. 

In addition to Goldman, others who signed the letter include Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Texas).