Press Releases
Chief Justice Roberts Rebuffs Calls for Action as SCOTUS Corruption Crisis Grows
WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this summer, House Democrats called for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to establish an independent investigative body to address the growing Court corruption crisis. Now, the Court’s curt, one-sentence response has been made public, just the latest in a long pattern of arrogant inaction from Chief Justice Roberts.
Chief Justice Roberts sat back and watched while the Supreme Court corruption crisis reached a fever pitch, causing public trust in his Court to plummet. His weak, one-sentence response completely fails to meet the moment,” said Accountable.US senior advisor Kyle Herrig.
“Roberts himself has the power to change the ethics standards of our nation’s highest Court, but hasn’t shown the courage, forcing Congress to step in. Instead of dodging all responsibility, the Chief Justice should clean up his Court,” Herrig continued.
This week, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) led a group of House Democrats in responding to Roberts’ inaction, calling the Chief Justice’s response “insufficient and unavailing” and renewing calls to “address the Court’s escalating crisis of legitimacy.”
In June, Roberts admitted to a private crowd that more can be done to address the growing Supreme Court corruption crisis — but he’s dodged every opportunity since. Meanwhile, troubling new reporting has emerged detailing even more serious ethics issues involving Justice Clarence Thomas, leading the Senate Judiciary Committee to pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act (SCERT Act).
Accountable.US has continuously called for Chief Justice Roberts to be held accountable for his inaction regarding the corruption plaguing his Court. Earlier this summer, Accountable.US launched a mobile billboard campaign near the Capitol Building and around Roberts’ Chevy Chase country club which displayed messages reading “Chief Justice Roberts: The Face of a Court in Crisis,” and “Chief Justice Roberts: Clean Up Your Court,” as well as headlines highlighting Roberts’ inaction.
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