Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) has requested documents from Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire who has donated millions to conservative causes, to investigate whether his gifts to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas violated federal tax law. Chief Justice John Roberts has responded to a request from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) for Roberts to testify about Thomas’s relationship with Crow by providing a statement of ethics principles and practices to which all current Supreme Court members subscribe. Wyden's letter to Crow requests documents and communications related to the gifts, as well as any records of payments made to Thomas or his wife, to investigate whether the gifts violated federal tax law.
Posts tagged as “Dick Durbin”
Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin to testify before the committee on May 2, citing judicial independence and separation of powers concerns. The revelations about Justice Thomas' close ties to a billionaire Republican donor have “contributed to a crisis of public confidence” in the nation’s highest bench. Roberts' decision to decline the invitation is likely to add to the controversy surrounding the court and will be met with further action to address the ethical issues raised by the reports on Justice Thomas.
Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has invited Chief Justice John Roberts to testify on Supreme Court ethics rules in light of reports of Justice Clarence Thomas' undisclosed acceptance of luxury gifts and real estate transactions. Durbin believes Roberts is an articulate and well-schooled man who would do well in responding to senators' questions, and that Thomas' reported conduct would amount to a violation of law if he were a circuit court judge. The hearing is expected to take place in early October.
Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) suggested that Senate Republicans may refuse to fill a vacancy on the Judiciary Committee if Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) were to resign. In response, Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) advanced seven of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees through committee on Thursday with Republican votes, allowing them to pass without Feinstein’s decisive vote. The news of Tester’s comments has caused speculation among Capitol staff, and it remains to be seen what the outcome of this situation will be.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has invited Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to testify at an upcoming hearing on ethics reform, following recent revelations about a billionaire GOP mega-donor's friendship with one of the justices. Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) noted that since 2011, there has been a steady stream of ethical issues, and the hearing will be an opportunity for the Supreme Court to address these and provide the public with more information. It is unclear whether Roberts will accept the invitation, but the hearing is expected to take place in early May.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has invited Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss ethics reform in the judiciary following reports of Justice Clarence Thomas' undisclosed gifts and trips from a Republican megadonor. Roberts has been asked to testify on potential reforms to the ethics rules, but not answer questions from committee members. The invitation has been met with criticism, and it is unclear if Roberts will accept. The committee has set a hearing date of May 2 for the potential testimony.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) has called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas due to his relationship with a GOP megadonor, prompting Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin to promise a hearing on the alleged ethics violations. Reports suggest that Thomas failed to disclose luxury travel, gifts and a real estate transaction involving the donor, Texas-based billionaire Harlan Crow. Senate Democrats have expressed their disapproval but have yet to outline a plan to investigate Thomas.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin has expressed outrage over the revelation that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has received gifts and luxury travel from a Republican donor, prompting a debate among Senate Democrats over the need for a hearing on Supreme Court ethics. However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to help Democrats temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee while she is ill, effectively blocking any hopes of pushing through judicial nominations.