Chief Justice John Roberts declined to testify earlier than Congress about Supreme Court docket ethics as Democrats ramp up their harassment marketing campaign in opposition to Clarence Thomas.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin requested Roberts to voluntarily testify on Supreme Court docket ethics on Might 2 after ProPublica printed a nasty hit piece on Clarence Thomas.
The Democrat-media complicated is harassing Clarence Thomas as a result of the last word objective is to increase the Supreme Court docket.
Earlier this month Propublica launched an assault on Clarence Thomas as a result of he took holidays with a billionaire Republican donor.
Clarence Thomas and his spouse, Ginni have been handled to lavish holidays by Harlan Crow, a distinguished Republican donor.
Final month the federal judiciary modified the principles and mentioned non-public jet journey paid for by others have to be disclosed.
Clarence Thomas launched an announcement on his non-public jet travels paid for by Harlan Crow.
“Harlan and Kathy Crow are amongst our dearest mates, and we now have been mates for over twenty-five years,” Thomas mentioned in an announcement.
This wasn’t ok.
In an unprecedented transfer, Senator Durbin attacked the judicial department and demanded Roberts testify on ethics reform.
Justice Roberts declined and mentioned you will need to protect judicial independence.
“I have to respectfully decline your invitation,” Roberts wrote in a letter, which was signed by all 9 justices to Senator Durbin and launched by a Supreme Court docket spokesperson.
“Testimony earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of america is exceedingly uncommon as one would possibly anticipate in gentle of separation of powers issues and the significance of preserving judicial independence,” Roberts added, in response to CNN.
Durbin shot again and mentioned it’s time for Congress to carry the Supreme Court docket accountable.
“Make no mistake: Supreme Court docket ethics reform should occur whether or not the Court docket participates within the course of or not,” Durbin mentioned.
“It’s time for Congress to simply accept its accountability to determine an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court docket, the one company of our authorities with out it,” Durbin added.
CNN reported:
Chief Justice John Roberts has notified Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin that he gained’t testify at an upcoming listening to on Supreme Court docket ethics, as an alternative releasing a brand new assertion signed by all 9 justices that’s meant to offer “readability” to the general public in regards to the excessive courtroom’s ethics practices.
“I have to respectfully decline your invitation,” Roberts wrote in a letter to Durbin, which was launched by a spokesperson for the excessive courtroom Tuesday.
“Testimony earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of america is exceedingly uncommon as one would possibly anticipate in gentle of separation of powers issues and the significance of preserving judicial independence,” he added.
With out addressing Durbin’s particular issues over ethics Roberts merely hooked up a “Assertion on Ethics Rules and Practices” to which he mentioned, “The entire present Members of the Supreme Court docket subscribe.”
