WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, Jamie Raskin, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jerry Nadler, Hank Johnson and Ted Lieu sent a letter to the Department of Justice urging Attorney General Merrick Garland  to investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for consistently failing to report significant gifts he received. For close to two decades, Justice Thomas repeatedly certified that his financial disclosures were “accurate, true, and complete,” despite omitting millions of dollars in gifts. Justices of the Supreme Court are required to file annual reports disclosing gifts, and the failure to do so carries a legal penalty under the Ethics of Government Act of 1978.

 

The letter reads in part,“Justice Thomas’s consistent failure to disclose gifts and benefits from industry magnates and wealthy, politically active executives highlights a blatant disregard for judicial ethics as well as apparent legal violations. No individual, regardless of their position or stature, should be exempt from legal scrutiny for lawbreaking. The integrity of our judicial system hinges on the impartiality and transparency of its members. As a Supreme Court justice and high constitutional officer, Justice Thomas should be held to the highest standard, not the lowest —and he certainly shouldn’t be allowed to violate federal law. Refusing to hold him accountable would set a dangerous precedent, undermining public trust in our institutions and raising legitimate questions about the equal application of laws in our nation.”

 

The full letter is available here.

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