Ocasio-Cortez Calls For Clarence Thomas To Be Impeached Over Gifts From GOP Mega Donor

[UCmeNdc]

"This degree of corruption is shocking — almost cartoonish," said the Democratic lawmaker.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Thursday called for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be impeached after a bombshell report revealed that he’s been taking luxury trips paid for by a Republican megadonor for decades and not disclosing them.

“This is beyond party or partisanship,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “This degree of corruption is shocking — almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached.”

The New York City Congress member was reacting to a ProPublica report published Thursday that lays out Thomas’ undisclosed ties to billionaire GOP donor Harlan Crow. Thomas “has accepted luxury trips virtually every year” from Crow for more than 20 years without reporting them, ProPublica reported, citing travel records and interviews. Thomas’ failure to disclose the trips appears to violate a law requiring judges, members of Congress and other federal officials to report most gifts, including private jet flights, per ProPublica.

Ocasio-Cortez said that barring dramatic change, this scandal will define the current conservative-led Supreme Court run by Chief Justice John Roberts.

“This is what the Roberts court will be known for: rank corruption, erosion of democracy, and the stripping of human rights,” she tweeted.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ocasio-cortez-clarence-thomas-impeach_n_642ed61ce4b001e12d70dcec

[brooklynite]

1. ...and she can introduce that Bill whenever she wants to.

[WarGamer]

5. According to Sen. Whitehouse...

This was all a loophole that existed before the Senate retooled the regulations last week.

So, for all the gnashing of teeth... it appears no rules or regs were broken.

The new rules should help a LOT.

Thanks Sen. Whitehouse.

[Farmer-Rick]

18. Not so sure about the no rules broken thing

Federal employees are not allowed to accept large gifts. Last time I looked, Clearance was being paid by federal dollars. He is a federal employee. I mean he can pretend those rules don't apply to him.

"Social Invitations from Persons Other than Prohibited Sources: An employee may accept unsolicited food, refreshments and entertainment, not including travel and lodging, for the employee and other guest, such as spouse, at a social event attended by several people where the invitation is from someone who is not a prohibited source, no fee is charged to anyone in attendance, and, if the sponsor of the event or person offering the invitation is not a person, the employee receives a written determination from the agency designee that his or her attendance will not cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the employee’s integrity or impartiality.". https://www.justice.gov/jmd/gifts-and-entertainment#:~:text=Outside%20Sources%2C%20Exceptions)-,Gifts%20Between%20Employees,the%20employee%20is%20a%20subordinate.

[wishstar]

28. Those rules are for the Dept of Justice (executive branch) but Supreme Court is the Judicial Branch

Supreme Court as head of the Judicial Branch does not fall under the rules governing the executive branch's Dept of Justice employees.

[Farmer-Rick]

29. No, those are rules for all federal employees

DOJ is just giving guidance on it.

As a federal contracting officer in Puerto Rico, I fell under those same rules. I worked for DOD (the executive branch) and not DOJ. DOJ frequently provides information on laws and rules for public employees.

Congress passes laws that apply to all federal employees. Congress also has the authority to organize, select and impeach the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court judges can only hold their position if they have good behavior as stated in the Constitution. Clarance has broken rules that apply to all federal employees, he has failed to maintain good behavior as required by the Constitution. Yes, he has broken laws.

[Gore1FL]

17. Typically, they like to build groundwork and support before they introduce legislation.

As well-connected and knowlegible you are, I am shocked you didn't know this.

[brooklynite]

24. If you're spending time building groundwork...

…you don’t publicly announce what you want to do until you’re ready to do it.

And the last time I checked, AOC is in a House which will never vote for it, no matter how much groundwork she lays.

[Gore1FL]

25. So the rhetoric might serve a different purpose, then?

Just like mine...

[Botany]

2. Thomas' corruption is nothing new. Scalia went on an all expenses paid high end duck hunting trip

... with Vice President Cheney as Cheney had business before the SOTUS (trying to hide the reason
that he pushed w into the Iraqi war was oil) and when asked about the duck hunting trip Scalia looked
@ the reporter and made a quacking noise and then laughed.

[MOMFUDSKI]

15. I still say

scalia died in a whorehouse. Call me crazy.

[Scottie Mom]

3. My first thought was the same as AOC's!

Impeach him!!! Now!!!

[leftieNanner]

4. I remember the olden days

When shame was a real thing.

SMDH

Edit to add: And people would resign for this.

[jaxexpat]

11. Shame is a kinda voluntary thing.

Simpleton's slurping away at the trough of affluence will hardly ever volunteer for it. They're much too preoccupied with self-congratulations, conspiratorial nods of agreement and communal back-slapping to delve into any of that introspection stuff.

[barbtries]

6. obviously he should be impeached.

this is not the first time he's lied on financial documents, he's as corrupt as fuck. plus he has a conflict of interest with his wife and won't do shit about it.

i still think she's the person who leaked the Dobbs decision.

[In It to Win It]

7. DRAW UP THE PAPERWORK! RFN!!!!

[Torchlight]

8. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has wowed me more times in her few years in D.C.

than I can think of. I'm (very) glad to see her bringing this particular point up in the national conversation.

[dchill]

9. No worries...

I'm sure Chief Justice Roberts will demand his resignation any minute now!

[nvme]

10. This scumbag should be prosecuted for this

As a federal employee, I am required to complete and ethics course. We are all told we cannot accept gifts of greater than 5 dollars. Absolutely no gifts can be accepted by anyone who has some business with the agency I am part of. How the fuck is this "pubic hair on someone's Coke can mutherfucker" get away with taking 20 years of vacations by a special interest prick's dime? Please tell me SOMEONE WILL IN VESTIGATE THIS TROGOLODITE.

[Martin68]

13. Conflict of Interest rules at the state and local level in Virginia are stringent. The same should a

apply to the Supreme Court, where so much more is at stake.

[Martin68]

12. If we don't start taking corruption on the Supreme Court seriously, our democracy will have slipped

from our fingers before we even noticed. At the very lest we have to impose standard ethical constraints on the court since they won't do it themselves.

[twodogsbarking]

14. Seems reasonable.

[MurrayDelph]

16. Asked for comment, Mitch McConnell replied

"She says that like it's a bad thing."

[Handler]

19. My father was a long time federal employee, Army Corps of Engineers. Accepting gifts was strictly

forbidden.

[TheDemsshouldhireme]

20. I am a health inspector

I couldn't so much as take a fountain soda from a place. This court is an utter disgrace. Rules and ethics don't apply to Clarence.

[Faux pas]

21. Kickety Kickin'

[Boomerproud]

22. This whole monstrosity will go down the rabbit hole.

Only libs and Drms are ever held accountable.

[mackdaddy]

23. Former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney spent time in prison for less.

I know Thomas would have to be impeached to get rid of him, but has he not committed multiple felonies by taking these things of value and not reporting them?

Besides possible bribery charges, has he declared all of these 'gifts' on his income taxes?

Bob Ney was basically put in prison for not declaring a paid golf trip, and not playing ball with his fellow Republicans over the Bush/Cheney mideast wars.
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16698187

[TomSlick]

26. It would be a futile gesture BUT the House needs to go on record by voting on impeachment.

[H2O Man]

27. Recommended.

[area51]

31. k&r n/t

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

32. Lock him up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

33. Sigh

She can call for it all day, but it won't happen.

She'd get more done by saying that impeachment is called for but won't happen because the r party is too corrupt for it.