Press Releases
Accountable.US Joins Over 85 Advocacy Organizations to Urge Senate to Confront Supreme Court Corruption Crisis
Groups release letter calling on Senate to take urgent action amidst growing ethics issues
WASHINGTON, DC – Government watchdog Accountable.US today joined over 85 advocacy organizations in urging the Senate to ramp up efforts to combat court corruption and issue subpoenas the Judiciary Committee approved last year to Supreme Court billionaire matchmaker Leonard Leo and billionaire benefactor Harlan Crow.
In a letter led by Court Accountability and United for Democracy, the organizations also called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin to launch a full-scale investigation into allegations of ethical violations by Supreme Court justices and advance a comprehensive anti-corruption bill to protect the rights and freedoms of the American people.
Over the last year, critical investigative reporting has uncovered numerous incidents of corruption and ethical misconduct at the Supreme Court — including conflicts of interest, inappropriate financial ties, undisclosed gifts and travel in violation of federal law, and much more — that undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the Court. Polling shows just 40% of voters express a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the current court, while 33% have little or no confidence. Nearly 80% of voters say it is very or fairly important for Congress to take action to raise the Supreme Court’s ethical standards.
“The American people are seeking answers from trusted messengers and their representatives in Congress,” the letter states. “Much like the House January 6 committee helped Americans understand and internalize the threat to democracy posed by Trump’s insurrection, strategic Senate oversight into the special-interest corruption of the Supreme Court would educate the public, shape public narratives, and reach a broad and diverse voter base that may not yet fully appreciate the extent to which their lives are being harmed by the Supreme Court’s relentless abuse of power.”
A copy of the letter sent to Leader Schumer and Chair Durbin is available here.
Ahead of the Supreme Court term, Accountable.US led over 40 watchdog and accountability groups in sending a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts demanding he ensure conflicted justices recuse themselves from key cases. Accountable.US also launched a campaign highlighting the corrupt Court on the first day of its new term.
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