Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has brought forward impeachment articles against two U.S. Supreme Court justices.
According to ABC News, these articles accuse Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas of significant ethical violations linked to undisclosed financial information and conflicts of interest.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, claims these actions by the justices jeopardize the integrity and fairness expected of the nation's highest court. She specifically mentions failures to recuse themselves in cases where they had personal or financial interests.
Justice Clarence Thomas is accused of not disclosing travel expenses and real estate holdings. In June 2024, he confirmed these previously unreported reimbursements, highlighting a potential conflict of interest not previously acknowledged to the public.
Justice Samuel Alito, appointed to the Supreme Court in 2005, faces accusations regarding his impartiality in cases where he is said to have had preceding biases. He also allegedly failed to disclose several financial details, which could influence judicial decisions.
The impeachment of a Supreme Court justice is highly uncommon. Only Samuel Chase was impeached in 1804, though the Senate subsequently acquitted him.
The current political landscape in the House of Representatives complicates the potential passage of these impeachment articles, given the slim majority held by Republicans. This vigorous action by Ocasio-Cortez follows a series of controversial Supreme Court decisions that have spotlighted the ethical practices of its justices.
Recent criticisms aren't limited to Thomas and Alito; other justices, including Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor, have also faced scrutiny concerning their involvement with entities presenting cases before the court.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed deep concern regarding the ethical standards at the Supreme Court:
The unchecked corruption crisis on the Supreme Court has now spiraled into a Constitutional crisis threatening American democracy writ large. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito’s pattern of refusal to recuse from consequential matters before the court in which they hold widely documented financial and personal entanglements constitutes a grave threat to American rule of law, the integrity of our democracy, and one of the clearest cases for which the tool of impeachment was designed.
For the impeachment to proceed, it requires a simple majority in the House of Representatives—a hurdle complicated by the House's current composition, where Republicans hold control by a slight margin.
The accusations delve deeply into the justices' conduct over several years. For instance, the issues cited with Justice Thomas refer back to travel expenses from as early as July 2019.
The initiative by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez underscores growing tensions and the push by some members of Congress to hold the judiciary to stringent ethical standards. Whether successful or not, this measure aligns with broader discussions about transparency and accountability for federally appointed judges, particularly those serving on the Supreme Court.
In conclusion, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's bold move to introduce articles of impeachment against Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas marks a critical moment in the oversight of judicial conduct. These actions highlight ongoing debates around the ethical responsibilities of Supreme Court Justices and the mechanisms available to enforce these standards, reflecting deeper societal concerns about the integrity of judicial governance in the United States.
