On Friday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and her progressive colleagues called upon the Department of Justice (DOJ) to formally investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Their claims hinge upon Thomas’s alleged relationship with Republican megadonor Harlan Crow and other wealthy individuals.
Ocasio-Cortez’s letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland specifically cites that Thomas “consistently failed to report significant gifts he received from Harlan Crow and other billionaires for nearly two decades.” It goes on to say that he received these gifts “despite certifying repeatedly that his financial disclosure forms are ‘accurate, true, and complete,’ in certifications ‘subject to civil and criminal sanctions.'”
Biden’s DOJ is prosecuting Biden’s chief political rival while covering for Biden’s son. Now, AOC wants the same DOJ to prosecute a Supreme Court justice.
Franklin’s “A Republic, if you can keep it,” seems an ominous warning these days. https://t.co/vpLRwQWAUv
— Taylor Morgan (@tlrdrkmrgn) August 11, 2023
This move by the New York representative is curious. If we delve deeper, the crux of the allegation appears to be around Justice Thomas’s long-standing personal relationship with Crow. This friendship, spanning more than twenty-five years, saw them embark on family trips together.
It’s worth noting Justice Thomas’s own words on the matter. Addressing the claims, Thomas said, “Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over twenty-five years. As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter-century we have known them.”
Note to self: When corruption is exposed in the Executive branch, lash out against the Black man in the Judicial Branch.
— Eric 🚀 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇵🇱 (@Carlkeck1) August 11, 2023
Thomas added, “Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable.”
But why now? Why has this sudden scrutiny of friendship and personal trips taken over two decades? It’s hard to overlook the political undertones. Justice Thomas, a conservative voice on the Supreme Court, seems to be the left’s latest target in an increasingly polarized political environment.
We need to question the motivation behind this call for an investigation. While Ocasio-Cortez claims it’s about transparency, some may argue that it’s more of a calculated move to shift the balance of the Supreme Court by discrediting a conservative Justice. Interestingly, the liberal side of the aisle is suddenly concerned about megadonors and their influence.
The public should have trust in the nation’s highest court. Sensational claims should not erode this trust unless concrete evidence of wrongdoing exists. The Supreme Court stands as a pillar of the U.S. democratic system, and undermining its legitimacy through unsubstantiated claims is a disservice to the nation.
