The Independent View: Report Accuse Supreme Court Justices Violating Disclosure Laws

Senate Democrat on Saturday, accused Supreme Court Justices of Violating Federal Disclosure Laws, in a lengthy Report that caps a monthslong Investigation by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and comes weeks before Republicans take Control of the Chamber.

The Report from Aides to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chairman of the Committee, says that the Failure by Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, to Disclose Lavish Trips and other Gifts from Wealthy Businessmen “constitutes a violation of federal law.”

Durbin’s Report is arguably the most Comprehensive yet detailing Luxury Travel, Private Jet Flights, and Property Deals, arranged for some of the Justices, though it mainly calls attention to Trips and Gifts that have been Publicly known for months. The Report appears designed to lay out a Record of Questionable Ethics on the Court.

“Now more than ever before, as a result of information gathered by subpoenas, we know the extent to which the Supreme Court is mired in an ethical crisis of its own making,” Durbin said in a Statement. “It’s clear that the justices are losing the trust of the American people at the hands of a gaggle of fawning billionaires.”

Similar Allegations have been raised previously, including by Durbin, and the Policymaking arm of the Federal Judiciary, has been looking into claims that Thomas’ Actions Violated Disclosure Law for more than a year. Both Thomas and Alito have cited the “Personal Hospitality” Exemption from Annual Reporting Requirements, which they said relieved them of any Obligation to Report the Trips.

The Federal Judiciary clarified last year, that the Rules require Jurists to Disclose Non-Business stays at Resorts and the use of Private Jets. In response to the outcry over the Thomas Trips, the Supreme Court adopted its First-Ever Code of Conduct a year ago, but the Document quickly faced Criticism because it includes No Enforcement Mechanism.

Durbin’s Report also Recounts a Scandal this year involving Two Controversial Flags, including an upside-down U.S. Flag hoisted over Properties that Alito owns. And it asserted Thomas “violated the law on multiple occasions” by Not Recusing in Cases involving the 2020 Presidential Election, despite Political Advocacy by His Wife, Ginni Thomas, in support of Trump (R).

Federal Law gives Justices wide Latitude to make their own Recusal Decisions. It requires them to Bow-Out when a Spouse has an “interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome” of a Case.

“The Majority Staff Report is not merely the Thomas Report, though he plays the most prominent role,” said Gabe Roth, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Advocacy Group "Fix the Court", in a Statement. “It shows how nearly every justice — liberal and conservative, both those who’ve left the Court in the recent past and the nine who serve today — has made lapses in judgment when it comes to their ethical responsibilities.”