Headline Roundup • July 11th, 2024
AOC Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Supreme Court Justices Thomas, Alito
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced a pair of impeachment articles against Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas on Wednesday.
The Alito Charges: The first charge against Justice Alito has to do with the upside-down American flag and appeal to heaven flag flown outside his home, both have been associated with the "Stop the Steal" movement. Alito said the flags were his wife's decision. Two Trump-related cases were pending before the court when the flags were first reported. According to the impeachment documents, Alito should have recused himself from the cases. The second charge is that Alito did not recuse himself from a case involving Paul Singer, who had taken Alito on a fishing trip that Alito did not disclose on ethics documents.
The Thomas Charges: Thomas faces a charge of failing to disclose "financial income, gifts and reimbursements, property interests, liabilities, and transactions," on ethics documents in regard to gifts from GOP-donor Harlan Crow. Thomas also failed to recuse himself from cases concerning his spouse's legal and financial interests, according to the impeachment documents. Thomas's wife was involved in President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn 2020 election results in Arizona, including sending text messages to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows about the matter.
How the Media Covered It: Across the spectrum, outlets highlighted AOC's comments. Some in the center and on the right emphasized that the resolutions were unlikely to have any effect in a Republican-controlled House. Updated 07/12/2024 at 10:18am ET to properly label Ocasio-Cortez as a Democrat.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Jemal Countess / Getty Images for Court Accountab
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., introduced articles of impeachment Wednesday against Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito over their refusal to recuse themselves from certain cases.
"Absent resignation, they must be removed," Ocasio-Cortez said on the House floor, arguing that the two justices pose a threat to the rule of law.
"Because of Alito's and Thomas’s refusals to recuse, everyday Americans cannot, should not and will not believe that these justices, and consequently the court they serve, is working to uphold the Constitution and put the country ahead of...
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
Congressional Democrats this week have kicked into a new gear their efforts to counter the conservative-controlled Supreme Court, a bid that’s likely to remain a frustrating one in an election year.
Following a series of decisions that gave former President Donald Trump broad immunity from federal charges, threw out a gun control rule and granted the courts more power over federal agencies, Democrats are raising the stakes to rein in the court with actions that have little chance of success given Republicans’ praise for many of the rulings.
Democrats, after...
Daily Mail
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez put forth articles of impeachment for conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito on Wednesday. The impeachment resolutions for both justices cite 'failure to disclose financial income, gifts and reimbursements, property interests, liabilities, and transactions, among other information.' The resolution for Thomas also cites 'refusal to recuse from matters' involving his wife's legal and financial interests. The one for Alito cites 'refusal to recuse from cases in which he had a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party in cases before the court.' The resolutions come amid...
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