Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) on Wednesday filed a motion to begin impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, two of the court’s staunchest conservatives and frequent targets of the far left.
The filing comes after the high court has largely completed announcing a slew of decisions that have oscillated between wins for both the left and right, though progressives like AOC have continued to keep Alito, Thomas, and the court’s conservative majority in their sights. A steady drip of reporting over the past year has tied Thomas to several of the Republican Party’s most prolific billionaire donors, raising questions about how the Supreme Court enforces its ethics rules. The filing also mirrors a motion put forward by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) requesting the Department of Justice appoint a special counsel to criminally investigate Thomas, according to MSNBC. They have cited his acceptance of travel and loan of a luxury car.
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A simple majority in the U.S. House may pass articles of impeachment against a Supreme Court justice, teeing up a formal trial in the Senate. However, Republicans’ control of the lower body means AOC’s motion is all but dead on arrival. Under Democrats, the Senate previously held impeachment hearings against former President Donald Trump.
Similar to Thomas, Alito has been accused of accepting financial gifts without properly disclosing them, including in some cases by individuals with business before the court. AOC has accused Alito, appointed in 2005 by former President George W. Bush, of failing to recuse himself from cases where she claims he has a conflict of interest, MSNBC added.
WATCH:
AOC files impeachment articles against Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. pic.twitter.com/1odQXqDKY3
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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 June, justices ruled that sitting and former presidents are largely protected from criminal prosecution over official acts taken in office, largely vindicating arguments made by attorneys for former President Donald Trump. The decision rocked Washington and has thrown his remaining three criminal trials into chaos, with all expected to be delayed well past the November election. Should Trump win, he would hold the power to order the DOJ to drop both federal cases against him. In Georgia, a state-level prosecution of election interference has been badly hampered by unforced errors committed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
While the motion may be good politics for Democrats, it wasn’t enough for Rep. Ocasio Cortez to save her endorsement from the far left. On Wednesday the Democratic Socialists of America rescinded their June 23rd endorsement of the progressive darling, citing an online forum she held with several progressive Israel supporters who denounced antisemitism among progressive activists. Meanwhile, consternation over President Joe Biden’s ability to win the election has thrown his party into free fall as leading figures, including former President Barack Obama, appear cautious to limit calls for him to end his reelection bid.
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