On Wednesday, regressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) initiated a move to start impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Both justices are known for their conservative stances and have frequently been criticized by the far left. Her action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Marxist elements of the Democratic Party and the conservative justices on the Supreme Court.
The filing follows a series of high court decisions that have sparked significant reactions across the political spectrum. AOC’s filing also reflects ongoing criticism from progressives targeting the court’s conservative justices, particularly amid reports over the past year linking Justice Thomas with influential Republican donors. These reports have intensified scrutiny regarding the enforcement of ethics rules within the Supreme Court.
Additionally, this initiative parallels efforts by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), who have called for the Department of Justice to appoint a special counsel to investigate Thomas criminally. Their concerns involve his alleged acceptance of travel and use of a luxury car, which they argue could constitute ethical violations.
The House needs only a simple majority to pass articles of impeachment, which would then trigger a formal trial in the Senate. However, given the current Republican control of the chamber, Ocasio-Cortez’s impeachment motion faces significant challenges and is unlikely to advance. The current political dynamic mirrors past actions under Democratic control, such as the impeachment hearings held against former President Donald Trump in the Senate.
Alito, similar to Justice Clarence Thomas, has faced accusations related to the acceptance of financial gifts without appropriate disclosure. These gifts allegedly include contributions from individuals who had business before the court. Ocasio-Cortez has criticized Alito, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush in 2005, for not recusing himself from cases where she claims there could be a conflict of interest.
Only one Supreme Court justice has ever been impeached. In 1805, Associate Justice Samuel Chase was impeached by the House, according to Fox 5 San Diego. Chase at the time was accused of refusing to dismiss biased jurors while excluding and limiting defense witnesses in political cases. He was acquitted about a year later and remained on the court until his death in 1811, the outlet added.
In May, Thomas addressed the threats and harassment he and his wife have received in recent years, ultimately describing the nation’s capital as a “hideous place.”
Thomas addressed a conference that was attended by judges, attorneys, and other court personnel within the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference, which oversees federal cases in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. His remarks came in response to a question about accomplishing work in an increasingly polarized country, as reported by Newsmax.
“I think there’s challenges to that. We’re in a world and we — certainly my wife and I the last two or three years it’s been — just the nastiness and the lies, it’s just incredible,” Thomas said. “But you have some choices. You don’t get to prevent people from doing horrible things or saying horrible things. But one you have to understand and accept the fact that they can’t change you unless you permit that,” Thomas added.
The veteran conservative justice has been the focus of campaigns by the left aiming to pressure him into resigning from the Supreme Court. Thomas has been criticized for allegedly accepting luxury trips from a wealthy donor without disclosing them, a claim that has drawn persistent scrutiny from the left. It’s noteworthy that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has faced similar accusations. It’s also noteworthy to point out that the justices are not required to disclose such things.
During the conference, Thomas was asked questions by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, a former law clerk for Thomas who was later appointed to the federal bench. Thomas revealed that he increasingly dislikes Washington D.C. where the longest-serving justice has lived for decades since his appointment by President George H. W. Bush.
“I think what you are going to find and especially in Washington, people pride themselves on being awful. It is a hideous place as far as I’m concerned,” Thomas said, adding that he and his wife have spent far less time in the city in recent years. “You get to be around regular people who pride themselves in doing harmful things, merely because they have the capacity to do it or because they disagree,” Thomas added.