Senate Democrats ask Garland to name special counsel to investigate Clarence Thomas [View all]

Source: CBS news




By Melissa Quinn July 9, 2024 / 2:54 PM EDT


Washington — A pair of Senate Democrats have asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to look into whether Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas violated any federal tax or ethics laws when he accepted travel and lodging from wealthy benefactors.

Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ron Wyden of Oregon told Garland in a letter dated July 3 and made public Tuesday that Senate investigations and public reporting have revealed evidence of allegedly "repeated and willful" omissions of gifts and income from Thomas' annual financial disclosure reports.

The two Democrats claimed that the extent of the justice's potential ethics violations exceeds conduct from other federal officials who have been investigated by the Justice Department for similar actions.

"Appointment of a special counsel would serve the public interest," Whitehouse and Wyden wrote in their letter. "The public must have confidence that the judiciary and the Department of Justice execute their responsibilities fairly, impartially, and without respect to political expedience or partisan interests."

Senate Democrats have been investigating ethics practices at the Supreme Court in the wake of news articles detailing travel Thomas accepted from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, which he did not disclose on his financial reports.








Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/clarence-thomas-special-counsel-senate-democrats-merrick-garland/

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