A petition launched by MoveOn.org calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito has amassed almost 1.4 million signatures against Thomas.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has introduced articles of impeachment against both justices, citing ethical conflicts and refusal to recuse from significant cases involving former President Donald Trump.
Peoples World reported that the MoveOn.org petition, which targets ethical violations by Justice Clarence Thomas, has garnered an impressive 1,383,689 signatures.
Thomas’s wife, Ginni Thomas, has also been drawn into scrutiny due to her involvement with Trump supporters and participation in a rally before the January 6 Capitol attack. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, spearheading the impeachment effort, pointed out these ethical issues as part of the reason for her actions.
In contrast, the petition against Justice Alito has 77,278 signatures, just short of its 80,000 goal. Ethics violations accusations have surfaced against Alito, notably that he accepted gifts from GOP donors who had business before the Supreme Court.
Alongside the petitions, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez filed articles of impeachment against Justices Thomas and Alito.
She emphasized the dangers posed by the justices’ refusal to recuse themselves from cases where they had clear personal and financial conflicts.
Ocasio-Cortez has remarked on the constitutional crisis stemming from these ethical breaches, underscoring her strong stance on upholding the rule of law. “The unchecked corruption crisis on the Supreme Court,” she declared, “has now spiraled into a constitutional crisis threatening American democracy writ large.”
She further stressed the significance of maintaining high ethical standards among Supreme Court justices to protect democracy. Highlighting lower court judges' higher ethical standards, she argued that lifetime appointments in the highest court necessitate stricter adherence to judicial ethics.
The path to impeachment, however, remains arduous. Under the Constitution, a simple House majority can impeach a justice, but a two-thirds Senate majority is needed for conviction. Given the House GOP’s dominance by Trump supporters, advancing these impeachment articles appears improbable.
House Republicans, many of whom have supported Trump, are unlikely to push forward with these impeachment efforts. This political landscape complicates any endeavors to hold the justices accountable despite the significant public support seen in the petitions.
Former House Minority Leader Gerald Ford once noted that “an impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.” Nevertheless, achieving the necessary Senate majority remains a substantial hurdle.
The spotlight on Justice Thomas follows his alleged acceptance of costly gifts from GOP donor Harlan Crow, raising ethical concerns. Furthermore, Ginni Thomas’s connections to the January 6 Capitol attack have only intensified calls for scrutiny.
Justice Alito has also faced ethical criticism, particularly for demonstrating public support for Trump supporters involved in the January 6 insurrection.
An impeachment article against Alito stated, “By repeatedly—over a period of multiple years—flying flags associated with the attempt to overturn the election results and stop the peaceful transfer of power, Justice Alito publicly displayed a bias toward those who incited and executed the January 6 insurrection.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s impeachment articles have alleged that both justices have shown a pattern of refusal to recuse themselves from consequential cases involving Trump, posing a threat to American rule of law and democracy’s integrity.
She emphasized that “the two justices’ ‘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.'"
Efforts to establish an ethics code for the Supreme Court have repeatedly hit a wall due to Senate Republican opposition. This persistent blockade highlights the continued political friction surrounding Supreme Court oversight.
Justice Alito’s engagements with GOP donors and his public statements favorable to Trump-affiliated individuals involved in the January 6 insurrection have raised significant ethical concerns.
According to the impeachment article against Alito, “Because Justice Alito engaged in a pattern of declaring sympathy with the parties before the Supreme Court in Trump-related cases, federal law required Justice Alito to recuse from all matters related to the insurrection.”
Given the resistance from Senate Republicans, instituting a comprehensive judicial ethics code remains a tough challenge, reflecting broader partisan divides.
The impeachment articles underscore a growing constitutional crisis triggered by ethical conflicts within the Supreme Court. Ocasio-Cortez and others argue that the unchecked actions of justices like Thomas and Alito threaten the tenets of American democracy.
In her advocacy, Ocasio-Cortez has drawn attention to the disparities between the ethical expectations imposed on lower court judges compared to those on the Supreme Court.
She articulated, “The lifetime appointments of Supreme Court justices make enforcement of these standards in the judicial code a solemn responsibility for the protection of our democracy."
With public trust in the judiciary at stake, these developments represent a critical juncture in the ongoing conversation about judicial accountability and ethical governance. The significant support behind the petitions demonstrates a broader public desire for transparency and ethical adherence in the highest court of the land.
In conclusion, the MoveOn.org petition to impeach Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito has seen substantial public backing, demonstrating widespread concern over judicial ethics.
Despite facing significant political obstacles, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s efforts signify a continued push for accountability.
Citing a constitutional crisis, Ocasio-Cortez highlights severe conflicts of interest and the refusal to recuse from pivotal cases as critical issues. As debates regarding ethical standards within the Supreme Court continue, the future of these impeachment efforts remains uncertain amid strong partisan divides.
The petitions against both justices underline a significant public demand for integrity and transparency within the highest court, spotlighting a crucial moment in the quest for judicial accountability.
