House Democrats plan to hold a hearing on impeaching justices following the controversial texts from Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, according to The Hill.

The Thomases made headlines when information made it to the mainstream media about texts from Ginni Thomas to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about the 2020 presidential election and subsequent Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot. 

Republicans have rallied to Clarence Thomas’ defense; however, Rep Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), the chairman of the House Judiciary courts subcommittee, distributed a memo ahead of the Wednesday hearing, exploring the codes of conduct for federal judges outside of the Supreme Court and legislative proposals to impose ethics requirements on Supreme Court justices. 

The memo talks about Congress’s impeachment authority in the Constitution as a form of regulation of the conduct of Supreme Court justices saying, “Threats or inquiries of impeachment as a means of regulating the conduct of Supreme Court justices have had varying effects.” 

The memo further calls for the Supreme Court to implement a code of ethics which has reportedly gained MOMENTUM among lawmakers saying, “following the reporting about text messages between the spouse of an associate justice and the then-White House Chief of Staff.”

“The Supreme Court has long operated as though it were above the law. But, Justice Clarence Thomas’ refusal to recuse himself from cases surrounding January 6th, despite his wife’s involvement, raises serious ethical — and legal — alarm bells,” said Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), vice-chair of the House Judiciary courts subcommittee.

“The need for strong, enforceable ethics laws is clearer than ever. We have to do more to hold the Court accountable and restore public trust through a binding code of ethics and recusal.”

However, GOP lawmakers believe that this hear is Democrats’ way of laying the groundwork for more action against Thomas and possibly other conservatives.