Democratic senators have conducted a nearly two-year investigation into Supreme Court ethics, which reveals Justice Clarence Thomas’s extensive luxury travel and recommends that Congress establish a mechanism to enforce a new code of conduct. Despite these findings, any progress on this issue seems unlikely as Republicans are set to take control of the Senate in January, highlighting the challenges of regulating a separate branch of government even as confidence in the court reaches record lows.
In a 93-page report released by the Democratic majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Saturday, additional undisclosed travel by Thomas in 2021 was uncovered, including a private jet trip to New York’s Adirondacks in July and a jet and yacht excursion to New York City sponsored by billionaire Harlan Crow in October. The report details over two dozen instances where Thomas accepted luxury travel and gifts from affluent individuals.
While the court implemented its first code of ethics in 2023, compliance with the guidelines is left to each justice, prompting calls for a more enforceable ethical framework. Committee chairman, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, emphasized the need for higher ethical standards within the highest court.
Republicans have criticized the investigation as an attempt to discredit the conservative majority on the court, with all Republican committee members objecting to the authorized subpoenas. Thomas defended his undisclosed trips with Crow, citing their close relationship and previous lack of disclosure requirements. However, the new ethics code now mandates reporting such travel.
The report highlights a history of undisclosed gifts and travel accepted by Thomas, estimated at over $4.75 million since his confirmation in 1991. It also mentions a luxury trip to Alaska taken by Justice Samuel Alito in 2008. Alito faced scrutiny for failing to disclose this trip and for not recusing himself from cases related to Donald Trump or the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The report also touches on Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s book sales and potential conflicts of interest related to book publishers. Justices’ involvement in cases involving their publishers has also been noted.
The text you provided appears to be an excerpt discussing the involvement of companies in which justices owned stock, particularly in relation to calls for a binding code of conduct within the Democratic Party. Justice Elena Kagan has publicly supported the adoption of an enforcement mechanism, a move that has drawn attention from various ethics experts who have expressed concerns about the potential legal complexities such a mechanism could entail. Justice Neil Gorsuch has notably referenced this code of conduct by recusing himself from an environmental case, a decision influenced by mounting pressure for him to step aside due to potential conflicts of interest involving a Colorado billionaire whom Gorsuch had previously represented.
Furthermore, the report mentioned in the text emphasizes the need for reforms within the Judicial Conference, the federal courts’ overseeing body headed by Chief Justice John Roberts. Additionally, it calls for a more in-depth investigation by Congress into the matter at hand. These developments underscore the ongoing efforts to address ethical considerations and conflicts of interest within the judiciary, particularly concerning the financial holdings and affiliations of justices in relation to their official duties and responsibilities.
