Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Sunday defended his decision to invite Chief Justice John Roberts to testify on the Supreme Court’s ethics rules following reports of Justice Clarence Thomas’ undisclosed acceptance of luxury gifts and real estate transactions.
When asked why he didn’t call Thomas to appear before the committee, Durbin told NBC’s “Meet The Press,” “I think I know what would happen with that invitation. would be ignored.”
He added that Roberts is an “articulate and well-educated man” who would probably “do well” answering questions from senators.
In a letter Thursday, Durbin asked Roberts or another Supreme Court justice appointed by him to testify at a public hearing next month on court ethics reform. He wrote that there is precedent for sitting judges appearing before Congress, including most recently in October 2011.
“History is going to judge the Roberts court on its decision on reform, and I think this is an invitation on May 2 for you to present to the American people,” Durbin told NBC’s Chuck Todd.
Durbin previously said there are no plans to subpoena Roberts if he declines to appear. The absence of Judiciary Committee member Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) as she recovers from shingles means Democrats likely wouldn’t have enough votes to compel Robert’s testimony.
Earlier this month, ProPublica reported Thomas and his wife, Ginni Thomas, “accepted luxury trips virtually every year” from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow for more than two decades without informing them. Following the report, Thomas saying Unidentified associates told him that hospitality from “close personal friends” that did not interfere with court business did not have to be disclosed.
The output too revealed a 2014 real estate deal in which Thomas sold Georgia property to Crow. Thomas’s mother still lives in one of the properties and does not pay the rent. Takes is reportedly plans to modify its disclosure forms to include that deal, but has not publicly commented on the transaction with his billionaire friend.
Republicans in Congress have urged Roberts to decline Durbin’s invitation.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.