Dems may withhold funds to force SCOTUS to adopt ethics rules.

Senate Democrats Push for Stricter Ethics Guidelines for Supreme Court Justices

A group of 15 Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), are calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt stricter guidelines for disclosing income sources and potential conflicts of interest. The group has suggested withholding up to $10 million in funds from the court unless the Chief Justice notifies Congress that the court has implemented a public code of ethics for justices. The new guidelines must cover circumstances requiring disqualifications and recusals, the receipt and disposition of requests related to disqualifications and recusals, and the publication of such dispositions and the reasons therefor. The Democrats believe that Congress has the authority to compel the Supreme Court to institute these reforms, and that the appropriations power is one tool for achieving these changes. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are among the senators who have signed onto the letter.

ProPublica recently published a series of articles claiming that conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted numerous gifts and vacation trips from a wealthy personal friend, without disclosing the gifts. The reports indicated Thomas vacationed with Harlan Crow, a successful real estate developer who has donated to Republican candidates, conservative-leaning organizations, and a centrist political organization called No Labels. Thomas has denied any wrongdoing.