Press Releases
Justices to Hear “Most Significant Test” of CFPB’s Existence — Despite Glaring Conflicts
WASHINGTON, DC – The Supreme Court will today take up Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) v. Community Financial Services Association Of America (CFSA), a critical case that has been called the “most significant test” of the CFPB’s existence. Each of the Court’s nine justices will ultimately rule on the case, regardless of Justice Thomas’s and Alito’s glaring conflicts of interest in the case and despite widespread calls for their recusal.
In June, ProPublica revealed that Justice Alito took a luxury fishing trip on hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer’s dime. Singer holds at least a $90 million stake in financial companies that would stand to benefit were the court to rule against the CFPB. After dodging calls for recusal, Justice Alito will hear CFPB v. CFSA today, all while his close pal holds a clear stake in the outcome.
Just a few weeks ago, ProPublica found that Justice Thomas had participated in Koch network events for decades and failed to disclose the events — an apparent violation of federal law. The Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity is also supporting the lawsuit that threatens to defund the CFPB in the case Justice Thomas will hear today.
These justices’ glaring conflicts of interest raise serious questions about their ability to remain impartial as they hear arguments in a case that stands to benefit their billionaire friends and close allies. Their brazen disregard for well-founded calls for recusal only further erodes public trust in the Court. It’s far past time for our Supreme Court justices to stop putting their billionaire pals over everyday Americans,” said Accountable.US president Caroline Ciccone.
Accountable.US last week led over 40 Supreme Court watchdog and accountability organizations in sending a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts demanding he ensure conflicted justices recuse themselves from cases in the new term, including today’s CFPB v. CFSA.
Yesterday, Accountable.US launched a campaign highlighting the corrupt Court on the first day of its new term. The campaign included a mobile billboard and projection on the Supreme Court building featuring graphics highlighting the cozy relationships that demand Justice Alito’s and Thomas’s recusal from the CFPB case and others.